SPOTLIGHT: Cricket’s loss has been rugby’s achieve when younger prodigy Riley Nolan opted to concentrate on the sport with the oval ball as an alternative of the cherry.
Nolan will captain the Junior Springboks in opposition to Argentina within the opening spherical of the Rugby Championship on the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Thursday.
Not solely do Norton’s athletic exploits prolong to each the oval and rectangular fields, however he additionally covers each disciplines – as an aggressive fast-bowler in addition to a hard-hitting lower-order hitter – on the cricket area.
Riley’s mind-blowing CV on the tender age of 18 contains the SA U19 Cricket World Cup, SA U20 Rugby, Paul Roos Head Boy, and Western Province in each disciplines.
The primary-year BCom Funding Administration pupil at Stellenbosch College turned solely the third sportsman previously decade to do the double of SA Faculties rugby and cricket,who’ve represented South Africa in school stage in each rugby and cricket.
He follows within the footsteps of individuals like Herschelle Gibbs, Conrad Jantjes, Ruan de Swardt, and Christopher Schreuder.
Gibbs went on to play for the Proteas and Jantjes for the Springboks, whereas all-rounder De Swardt performs for the Proteas.
In whole, 15 college athletes have completed the exceptional feat – 11 of them earlier than 2000, with the achievement turning into more and more tough with the professionalism of sports activities programmes in faculties in current instances.
Having represented Boland and Western Province in cricket and Western Province in rugby all through his highschool journey, Norton acknowledged that nothing compares to donning nationwide clothes.
“If you placed on that jersey, you realise that you just’re not taking part in for your self anymore. You’re taking part in for the nation, you’re taking part in for the totally different cultures, the varied land.
“It provides you a lot extra power you possibly can stick with it going, you possibly can undergo the robust instances as a result of what you’re representing and what’s backing you and behind you; that’s why I might by no means ever need to play for anybody else apart from South Africa,” Riley mentioned in an interview with Day by day Maverick final yr.
The teen adopted in his father Chris’ footsteps by becoming a member of Stellenbosch College this yr. Chris represented Maties at hooker for 12 years from 1991 to 2003 and says the maroon jersey means loads to him and his household.
When requested by Maties Sport how tough it was to decide on between rugby and cricket, Riley mentioned: “It was robust as a result of cricket has executed loads for me and taught me a terrific deal. My dad informed me to do what I beloved, and through matric I realised that I beloved rugby only a bit extra – the unbeatable camaraderie, the inspiration of the Springboks, and Maties.
“For me it equips you with abilities and habits to succeed off the sector: dedication to a purpose, work ethic, braveness. And it additionally teaches you how you can stay outdoors of your personal bubble.
“There’s a lot range in rugby that comes collectively for a standard purpose. Nothing unites greater than sport.”
