Rugby Kapteins. In ons gewilde reeks oor sport kapteins, gesels Schools That Rock vandag met Jaco Grobbelaar. Jaco is die kaptein van Hoërskool Fichardtpark se 1ste rugbyspan. Jaco druk vandag die tiende drie in ons reeks vanjaar oor Rugby Kapteins van hoërskole in Suid-Afrika.
“Ek het my eerste rugby wedstryd gespeel toe ek ses jaar oud was op ‘n Bulletjie rugbydag. Dit was baie lekker. Ek het ook tydens daardie wedstryd my eerste drie gedruk! Die dinge van rugby waarvan ek hou is die spangees en kameraadskap van ‘n rugbyspan. Ek het besluit om rugby te speel toe Victor Matfield, Pierre Spies en die Bulle gedurende 2009 en 2010 skitterende rugby gespeel het.
As rugby kaptein is my raad aan beginners is dat hulle die spel moet geniet en elke wedstryd moet speel asof dit hul laaste wedstryd is.
Die posisie wat ek tans speel is slot, maar ek het al agtste man gedurende my laerskool jare gespeel. Ja, ek geniet dit baie om slot te speel.
Die eerste keer wat ek as kaptein gekies is, is toe ek o.9 gespeel het. Dit was vir my ‘n baie groot eer om as kaptein uit te draf op die veld. As rugby kaptein lei ek die span deur voorbeeld en ek praat baie met die manne en motiveer hulle.
Goeie rugbyspeler
Volgens my moet ‘n goeie rugby speler atleties en fisiek sterk wees. Hy moet ook beskik oor goeie balvaardighede en hy moet in spanverband kan funksioneer op goeie en slegte dae. My sleutel tot sukses op die rugbyveld begin Maandag op die oefenveld. Wat my inspireer elke keer wanneer ek op die rugbyveld draf vir ‘n wedstryd, is die wete dat ek nog ‘n geleentheid het om te doen waarvoor ek lief is.
My lekkerste wedstryd van my rugby loopbaan tot nou, was op 6 Maart vanjaar teen Hoërskool Diamantveld op Hoërskool Fichardtpark se sportdag. Ons het met 33 – 27 gewen. Ons het uitstekend as ‘n span saam gespeel voor baie toeskouers. My slegste wedstryd was teen Maritzburg College in 2022. Ons het daardie dag ‘n groot drag slae gekry.
Die beste rugby besluit wat ek geneem het, was toe ek besluit het om na Hoërskool Fichardtpark te kom. Dit was ‘n baie goeie keuse.
Wanneer ek ‘n moeilike wedstryd agter die rug het, vra ek raad en leiding by ons afrigters. Ek en die afrigters het goeie kommunikasielyne en ons ontleed die wedstryd en spreek probleme aan.
Grootste rugbyheld
My grootste rugbyheld is Eben Etzebeth. Sy arms is die grootste en hy speel uitmuntende rugby oor ‘n baie lang en suksesvolle loopbaan.
My persoonlike rugby-doelwit vir vanjaar? Ek sal graag Cravenweek rugby wil speel. Verder beoog ek ook om ná skool aan te hou rugby speel. Ek sal graag vir een van Suid-Afrika se rugby-unies wil speel.
Ek hanteer my verantwoordelikhede met rugby saam met my sosiale en akademiese verantwoordelikhede deur goeie tydsbestuur en balans te handhaaf.
My grootste enkele hoogtepunt van my rugbyloopbaan tot dusver was verlede jaar toe ons in die finaal van die Akademie week in Wellington teen die Sharks gespeel het.
Ek neem in die afseisoen deel aan atletiek, en meer spesifiek hamergooi.
Die professionele rugbyspeler met wie ek graag wil koffie drink, is Eben Etzebeth.
Ek sal myself beskryf as gedetermineerd.
Rugby Captains
“I played my first rugby match when I was six years old on a ‘bulletjie’ Rugby Day. It was very nice. I also scored my first try during that game! The things about rugby that I love are the team spirit and also the camaraderie of a rugby team. I decided to play rugby when Victor Matfield, Pierre Spies and the Bulls played brilliant rugby during 2009 and 2010.
My advice to beginners is that they should enjoy the game and play every game as if it were their last game.
The position I’m currently playing is lock, but I’ve also played eighth man during my elementary school years. Yes, I absolutely enjoy playing lock.
The first time I was selected as captain is when I played U9. It was without a doubt a very great honour for me to jog out onto the field as captain. As rugby captain I lead the team by example and I talk to the men a lot and also motivate them.
Good rugby player
In my opinion, a good rugby player must be athletically and physically strong. He also needs to have good ball skills and he needs to be able to function in team context on good and bad days. My key to success on the rugby field starts on the training ground on Monday. What inspires me every time I jog on the rugby field for a game is the opportunity that I have to do what I love.
My most enjoyable game of my rugby career to date was on 6 March this year against Diamantveld High School at Fichardt Park High School’s sports day. We won by 33 – 27. e played great as a team together in front of a lot of spectators. My worst game was against Maritzburg College in 2022. We also got a big hiding that day.
The best rugby I took was when I decided to come to Fichardt Park High School. It was a very good choice.
When I have a tough game behind me, I ask for advice and guidance from our coaches. The coaches and I also have good lines of communication and we analyze the game and address issues.
Biggest rugby hero
My biggest rugby hero is Eben Etzebeth. His arms are the biggest and he plays outstanding rugby over a very long and successful career.
My personal rugby goal for this year? I would love to play Craven week rugby. I also intend to continue playing rugby after school. Furthermore I would love to play for one of South Africa’s rugby unions.
I handle my responsibilities with rugby along with my social and academic responsibilities by maintaining good time management and balance.
My biggest single highlight of my rugby career so far was last year when we played the Sharks in the final of the Academy week in Wellington.
I also participate in athletics, and more specifically, hammer throwing.
The professional rugby player I would like to have coffee with is Eben Etzebeth.
I would describe myself as “determined”.
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