Saffa Footprint Across Europe: Eight South Africans shine in the Rugby Europe Championship
During this year’s Rugby Europe Championship, no less than eight South Africans were in action for the various international sides in action in the competition.
Cody Thomas, who represented Westville Boys’ High as a tighthead prop back in 2014, was ever-present for Portugal in the competition and helped them to win the final against Georgia by 19-17 in Leganes. Not surprisingly, more than a couple of Saffas have played for Os Lobos (The Wolves) through the years.
Jacques le Roux (HTS Tuine), Nelio de Sa and Mike Andrade (both Grey College) have represented Os Lobos in their careers. Last year, Sergio Moreira (Noordheuwel) also toured South Africa with Portugal, but he still has to make his debut.
Romania had the largest Saffa-representation during the competition. No less than four South Africans represented Stejarii (The Oaks) during their campaign.
Nicolaas Immelman (Grey College), Dylan Schwartz (EG Jansen), Damian Bonaparte (Outeniqua) and Jondré Williams (Boland Landbou) were the four players. All of them also represented their respective unions at the annual Craven Week during their schooling careers.
Probably the most interesting Saffa in the Europe Championship is Switzerland‘s scrumhalf, Blessing Motaung (Jeppe High School for Boys). He is a freelance journalist who made his debut for the Swiss side during the competition and also represented the University of Johannesburg’s Young Guns earlier in his career.
For Spain, there was a certain John-Wessel (JW) Bell in action at fullback. Bell, a former learner from Eldoraigne in Centurion, also represented the Pumas, Valke and Lions during his proffesional career. He made his debut for Spain back in 2019 and has represented them in more than 30 tests since.
For Germany, Bader-Werner Pretorius (Michaelhouse) was the only Saffa in action for the Black Eagles. They have also used quite a few Saffas through the years, with Sebastian Ferreira (Paarl Boys’ High), who made his international debut in 2016, still part of their squad.
Other former Saffas who played for Germany are Paul Bosch (Ellisras), Ayron Schramm (Kearsney College), Adriaan Theisinger (Grey College), Jaco Otto, Kurt Haupt (St Alban’s College), Hendrik van der Merwe (Grey College), Jarrid Els (Hudson Park), Marcel Henn, Wynston Cameron-Dow (Durban High School), Marcel Coetzee (Maritzburg College), Michael Poppmeier (Graeme College), Nikola Klewinghaus (Hillcrest High) and Raynor Parkinson (King Edward VII).
Interestingly, Otto is the top try scorer for the Black Eagles with 25 tries in his career, while Parkinson’s 338 points is the most ever for the German national side.
