Captain’s profile: Tiaan Bezuidenhout
Hoërskool Rustenburg captain Tiaan Bezuidenhout is determined to reach his great potential and carve out a professional rugby career for himself.
The 18-year-old eighthman has been included in this year’s preliminary Craven Week squad and will captain the Rustenburg first XV in their FNB Classic Clash against Brits this weekend.
“My goals are to make the final Craven Week squad this year and ultimately go on to play professionally,” said Bezuidenhout, who has previous Craven (Under-13) and Grant Khomo (Under-16) Week experience.
“It was great to test and compare myself against the best players in the country and the experience and exposure it afforded me have been invaluable.”
Bezuidenhout, who has two seasons of first team rugby under his belt, is a hard-working No.8 and a proud and inspirational leader whose determination is infectious.
“It’s a great honour and massive responsibility to captain the first team – it’s the highlight of my playing career thus far,” he said.
Bezuidenhout said that while beating Monument in the Beeld Week is one of the team’s major goals this season, they are full focused on Saturday’s showdown with Brits.
“Like all games against Brits this weekend’s game will be a tough one. Games against our Bushveld friends are never easy but it doesn’t matter who we play against, if we play as a team we will come out on top.
“We have a well conditioned side with a lot of potential and there’s a positive energy among the players. We started a new training programme last September that focuses on all aspects of a player’s development and we can feel the change in our fitness and conditioning.”
He concluded: “Playing against some of the best schools in the country is great for us as players in terms of experience and exposure and it helps us to develop as a team with every passing game.”
