Captain's profile: Phillip Nel
Union High School captain Phillip Nel is expecting another physical encounter when his team faces Hoër Volkskool in a Classic Clash in Graaff-Reinet on Saturday.
Union have had the upper hand in this fixture in recent years. The last time Volkskool were victors in this match was back in 2008.
"Volkskool are always a hard and physical match and we expect nothing less from them this weekend," said Nel.
"Volkskool haven’t won interschools since 2008. From there on there have been a couple of draws and two convincing wins for Union in 2010 and 2011, with 2014 is the most recent result.
"Union was having a very poor season last year and Volkskool was having an excellent year. Volkskool were the clear favourites, but we were able to defend them for 71 minutes and were able to turn over possession and score in the corner to come off with a very exciting draw."
That draw is also the highlight of Nel's career so far, which includes 26 caps for his school's first team.
The 17-year-old flank knows what he is capable of as a player and as a leader.
"I feel honoured, proud and humbled by being chosen as captain of my team.
"I have a great deal of stamina and I am quick off the mark. I get around the field quickly and even though I am small, I am able to tackle the biggest players on the field.
"I deal well under pressure and am able to lead my team through the hardest of matches, even in the toughest of situations," he said.
Union have had a tough season so far and with most of his teammates in Grade 11, Nel knows that this could be the biggest match his players have ever been involved in.
"During our season we have had our ups and downs. The matches that we had lost, we had lost by a small point’s margin. But when we won, we were the clear victors.
"The majority of our team are Grade 11 learners, but we have been playing together since the start of our season, however, most of them are not use to such a big event, such as inter-schools. We have been blessed throughout the season with not many injuries; therefore everyone will be able to play at their full potential on Saturday," he added.
Nel will be taking a gap year after school where he will be working in the United Kingdom. When he returns he will enrol at Stellenbosch University to study Chartered Accounting.
