http://www.drum.co.za8 AUGUST (^2019) | 75
ELSEYTHOMASOFFICIAL
c a e s e co e
but join the hype after the All Blacks
clash. “Scoring tries looks as if it’s a real-
ly simple thing for him at this level.
“His service is nice and crisp, his feel-
ing for the game and support play is a
great thing that he brings to the game. If
we keep encouraging that and don’t
overcoach him, he’ll keep improving and
doing the things he did today,” he said.
There are two more Test matches to go
before the squad is announced for this
year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan, but
Herschel seems like a certainty. There are
even calls for him to be the first-choice
instead of Faf de Klerk at scrumhalf but
that’s unlikely to happen yet.
HerschelcametothefieldafterDe
uced pure magic but De Klerk is
ore experienced and has proven
is mettle time and again.
But waiting in the wings is a red-
otstaronthe rise.ERSCHEL always
dreamt of playing for
the Springboks one day
and counted New Zea-
land’s Dan Carter and
South Africa’s Bolla
Conradie among his favourite players.
Growing up in Kylemore, he was crazy
about ball games and started playing
rugby when he was five. Adeline and
Sammy started calling him their “Spring-
bokkie” when he was still at preschool.
For Sammy, a safety officer for a logis-
tics company, his sons’ childhood was a
go-go-go time.
“Herschel and Sammy Jo would always
beg their father to kick a rugby ball with
them,” Adeline, a housewife, says.
“Their dad would leave everything he
was busy with and go with the boys to
t h e fi e l d .”
At primary school Herschel excelled in
cricket and basketball but it was clear hewouldbea rugbyguy,hismom says.
He got a scholarship to attend Paul
Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch, a top
rugby school, where his talent was
honed. He represented Western Province
at Under-16 level before progressing to
their Under-19 and Under-21 sides and
made his Super Rugby debut last year as
part of the Stormers’ squad in their game
against the Sharks.
Sammy Jo plays rugby for the Kylemore
Rugby Club but is more focused on his
IT studies at Stellenbosch University.D
ID Adeline ever think her
firstborn’s career would sky-
rocket like this?
She gives it a moment’s
thought. “We did, yes – but
not that it would happen
this soon. It was a surprise when he was
chosen to play for the Boks. I mean, there
are so many other talented players.”
When her son isn’t dodging players
twice his size and hurling himself over
try lines he’s walking his dogs, going to
the gym, spending time with girlfriend
Kelsey Thomas – and sleeping.
“Let’s just say he rests well,” Adeline
quips.
She describes her son as down-to-
earth and modest to a fault.
“Whenever he scored a try in a high
school game I’d tell him we were going to
have a braai to celebrate. Then he’d say,
‘Please don’t make a fuss over one try’.”
The family has had to make many sac-
rifices, driving far and wide to support
him at his rugby games. But they never
complained, Adeline says, because that
was what he loved and they wanted to be
there for him. She shares a story of just
how invested she got in one of Herschel’s
rugby matches years ago.
“He was 14 at the time and they were
playing against Paarl Gymnasium but
they just couldn’t seem to score a try,”
Adeline recalls. “I was running alongside
the field, literally seeing myself scoring
this try on their behalf.
“It felt as if I could just grab the ball.
Eventually the referee said to me, ‘Mom,
you need to get off the field’. I didn’t even
realise I was on the field!”
Herschel was crowned man of the
match after that game.
“The trophy he brought home that day
feltasif it wasours,”Adelineadds.
Andit’sa feelingthat’sremainedwith
everyachievementthat’sfollowed.
EXTRA SOURCES: SARUGBYMAG.CO.ZA, SPORT24.CO.ZA,
TIMESLIVE.CO.ZAT: Herschel started bringing home rugby trophies
a young age to his proud family, parents Sammy
Adeline and brother Sammy Jo (ABOVE).OVE: With his girlfriend Kelsey
omas. LEFT: Teammate Pieter-Steph
Toit embraces Herschel after he
ores the Springboks’ only try in their
atch against New Zealand.NEWS