VIDEO: Pead's 'disbelief' following Bok call-up
WATCH as the Behind the Ruck duo of Springboks Rudy Paige and Juan de Jongh sit down with Junior Bok and Under-20 champion Haashim Pead.
Pead caught the eye during the World Rugby U20 Championship with his darting snipes around the breakdown and playmaking skills from the hand and boot.
His heroics in helping the Junior Boks claim their second U20 title in 13 years didn’t go unnoticed.
Pead, alongside Junior Bok teammates Cheswill Jooste and Bathobele Hlekani, was called up to Rassie Erasmus’s training squad for their two-Test series against the Wallabies.
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Pead said that he never dreamed of the opportunity to come so quickly, and he is looking forward to sharing a space with players he looked up to as a young boy.
“Wow! I’m looking forward to it. There’s not much more I can say,” Pead said.
“To be allowed to work with the likes of Grant Williams, Morné van den Berg and Eben Etzebeth – people I used to look up to as a young child.
“Now I get the opportunity to train with them, it’s something out of this world.
“It’s something I would’ve never thought about.
“Even going into camp with the Junior Boks on my first day, I never thought I would be in the position I am right now.
“I’m truly privileged.”
Pead also shared his feelings after the fulltime whistle went in the Final against the Baby Blacks.
“I couldn’t believe it at first. I spoke to [captain] Riley Norton afterwards.
“I just said to him that it feels quite surreal.
“We were together for six months [as a squad] and now it’s all over.
“You’ve built such special relationships with your friends, teammates and coaches
“And at the end of the game, you also realise ‘Wow, when will I ever play with these guys and spend time with these coaches again?’ It’s quite surreal.
“It’s sad, but it’s also a good thing. I wished them well for their future endeavours, and I hope they wish the same upon me.
“But it was quite surreal, I couldn’t believe it at the time.”
Watch the full interview below…
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