Carl Bezuidenhout - captain of Union High
We profile Carl Bezuidenhout as his school gears itself for their big match of the year – the FNB Classic Clash between Union High and Volkskool in Graaff-Reinet.
There are five boys in the family and they all play rugby. What is more father is the first team's coach. They talk rugby in the Bezuidenhout household!
When Carl's mother lost a brother and a sister-in-law in a motor accident some eleven years ago, the Bezuidenhouts adopted their children – two sons and "a little girl". Add their own three sons and it is a big family.
Father Fanie is the superintendent of the boarding hostel at Union High, and so the big family Bezuidenhout lives there with an estate around them. The mother is a past pupil of Union High as was the brother who was killed. That brother played cricket for South African schools and was flyhalf in the rugby side.
Carl's two older brothers played flyhalf. Unsurprisingly, Carl is a flyhalf.
Like many flyhalves, Carl Bezuidenhout is a good cricketer. He is a No.4 batsman and opening bowler, playing for Eastern Province Under-13, Under 15 and, as the captain, Under-17. He has been in the 1st XI since Std 6 (Grade 8). In fact he probably prefers cricket to rugby and hopes that next year he will get a chance to develop both.
He is hoping to join the Sharks' Rugby Academy and the Natal Dolphins in the hope that he can continue with both codes.
This year he went to Craven Week as the Eastern Province flyhalf. It was a bit of a surprise to the men from the big city but he performed especially well at the trial and got into the team.
"I thought I was in with a chance," he said, which meant that selection did not come altogether as a surprise.
He is proud of Union High, but then he has been at the school since Sub (Grade 1). He is in his third year in the 1st XV and enjoyed being the captain. But then leadership sits easily with him, for he is also the head boy of Union High.
"It's great fun. Every boy at the school dreams of being the captain of the first team."
How have they done? "We've had a brilliant year. We have won 14 of our 17 matches."
That's much the same as Volkskool's record and its Volkskool that they play next year, Volkskool just down the street and on the side of the same koppie.
"We get on well with them – for the rest of the year," Carl said with a chuckle. "It's a bit different this week."
Division in the town? "Not really. The town thrives on it. It's the highlight of the year. All the businesses do well this weekend.
"Stacks of Old Boys come in. There's a huge buzz."
"It's close this year. For the first time there is no favourite. There's nothing between the sides."
Kicking is probably the best part of Carl's game but this year he has run and distributed more as he has fast backs with especially speedy wings.
The pack of forwards is not big but is mobile with especially fast loose forwards. "We like to spread the ball and tire out the opposition."
Having your father as the coach? "It's great because we can talk about things at home, especially because my brother Gareth van Niekerk is my scrumhalf."
They talk rugby in the wonderful Bezuidenhout family – even if the youngest is not a flyhalf. He is the flank un the Under-15A.
Carl Bezuidenhout was born in Grahamstown on 10 February 1986, when his father was teaching at Graeme College.
