Christo Fransman - Captain of Weltevrede
Player profile
Weltevrede of Wellington play rivals Bergrivier at Boland Stadium in an FNB Classic Clash and the captain of Weltevrede is Christo Fransman.
Christo was born in Paarl on 13 August 1986 – which means that the match will be a birthday present for him, victory an even sweeter one. The match will be shown on national television for all South Africa to see and the ground will be packed – what a birthday party!
Christo started playing rugby in Grade 1 at Pauw Gedenk Primary Schools when Miss Loots was his coach. Then he was a flyhalf as he still is today. He has also played scrumhalf but prefers flyhalf.
He has been a captain from Grade 2 on, as he still is. It is his second year as Weltevrede's 1st XV captain. Last year Bergrivier beat them in this big derby. The score was 13-8. "It was tough," Christo says – and he expects it to be tough again.
This week Christo will play his part in the geesbou – the building up of spirit in the school. There is more than just the rugby. There will be netball, basketball, volleyball, darts, success and soccer as well, but the 1st XV rugby match will count most. On the day there will be marching and music and a crowd drawn from Paarl and Wellington – a bigger crowd they say than goes to Faure Street Ground for the Paarl Boys' High against Paarl Gim and there were 25 000 at that a week or so ago.
Christo says: "Being the captain is a great honour but in fact any of the team could be captain because the players know what they are doing. I am just there to make decisions when the referee blows his whistle. We have a well-balanced team."
Christo is the team's kicker but he prefers getting his backline moving and enjoys tackle – and he can tackle all right. How he uses the ball depends on the game and the game situation at the time. His cioach Rodney Cornelissen says that Christo is worth gold to his team. He is the playmaker.
In 2004 he was in the Boland Team for the Academy Week and this year he is in the Boland Under-19 side. He will continue playing with his club Newtons next year and try to get into the Boland Under-21 side. He would love a contract to play rugby!
For a general view of Weltevrede, click here.
