KNYSNA NEWS - A Knysna local recently ran onto the field for the national rugby team, and as a local rugby coach has said, he made his intentions clear immediately by getting stuck in from the first chance he had.
Warrick Gelant became the 890th Springbok on Saturday 25 November when the South African national team took on Italy as part of the Springbok's tour of Europe.
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Gelant finally got his chance, said the director of Titan Women's and Greater Knysna rugby clubs Aschin Klein, when coach Allistair Coetzee introduced him in the 60th minute, replacing Courtnall Skosan on the left wing.
Gelant, a former student at Hornlee Primary, attended Outeniqua High School in George after being spotted during his U13 Craven week years, Klein explained.
He represented the SWD Eagles at all schoolboy levels, and in his Grade 11 and 12 years also represented the SA Schools team, after which he joined the Blue Bulls Rugby Union.
Klein said that Gelant went on to represent the SA U20 team and also played varsity cup for the University of Pretoria in his first year with the Bulls.
"He represented the Bulls in the Vodacom Cup, Curry Cup and Super Rugby.
"Gelant also had a short stint with the Blitzbokke where he was part of two tournament wins before his call-up to the Springboks.
"The only club rugby game he ever played was for the Titans from Knysna back in 2013 where he got his first taste of senior rugby and scored six tries in 20 minutes," said Klein.
Some setbacks along the way
The road to success for this gifted youngster from Hornlee was not without any setbacks, said Klein.
"Just as he found his feet at top-flight rugby he broke his jaw in a Super Rugby match.
"Just as he made his return to the game, and after finding his form once again with an expected Springbok call-up waiting, he sustained a serious knee injury that kept him off the field for the remainder of the 2016 rugby season," said Klein.
But he quickly put the setbacks behind him, Klein said, and focused on getting back, getting stronger and becoming better than before.
"Warrick is a very humble player but extremely hardworking and dedicated to his goals. Although I had the privilege to work with him I can't claim to have had any role in his success.
"A solid foundation that was formed by his primary school coaches Frank Borchards and Mr Weber, and then easily the most important person to his success must be his mother Baby Gelant," said Klein.
Klein added that Gelant is the third Springbok to come from Knysna, with Davon Raubenheimer representing the Springboks between 2009 and 2011 and Mathrin Simmers who became the first female Springbok in 2012 and is still a member of the Springbok 7s team.
"Warrick, just as Davon, resides in Charlie Levack Street in Hornlee, the centre of a community that has become known for its 'down thumb' activities like drug abuse and criminal activities.
"It's always inspiring to see our youngsters stepping up despite the challenges around them and become a message of hope for the youngsters of today, showing them that anything is possible through hard work and dedication."
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