How much for a schoolboy?
Sunday's Rapport reports that the Sharks have made an offer to Curwin Bosch, the Grey High Schools rugby player that every province would like to have.
Apparently Free State made him an offer but that the Sharks far surpassed that offering the player the possibility of earning R350 000 next year and a car allowance, apart from a signing on fee for himself and his parents.
Bosch turned 18 near the end of last month, which means he is a legal position to sign a contract.
Bosch is a present in Grade 12 at Grey High School in Port Elizabeth. Last year – 17 in Grade 11 – he went to the Under-18 Craven Week in Middelburg and was the talk of the Craven Week. He was then chosen for SA Schools and played against overseas countries at flyhalf and fullback. Truth be told, he could play in any position, for he is a genuine talent.
Nature has been good to him – 1,8m tall, 80kg with a best time for 100 metres of 10,9. And you can be sure he has the special vision that sees things slowly and in depth, giving him the timing of all good sportsmen and the ability to see possibilities for attack. He has added all the skills of a special rugby player – good catching and passing, instinct of what to do, a massive boot from hand or tee, clever feet for dodging, a supple body for swerving and able to do both inn the direction of his choice. He is a match-winner and he tackles.
By the end of Grade 11, Bosch had played Under-16 Grant Khomo Week for Eastern Province, Under-18 Craven Week, South Africa Under-18 Sevens and South African Schools.
The past is OK and one hopes that the future will be the full flowering of the talent. Unlike two other wonderful schoolboy flyhalves, Peter Kirsten and Herschelle, he does not have cricket to lead him astray.
He certainly is a player worth having but it is obvious that it would take a weighty cheque to attract/entice him to a province/franchise/employer. So, even if Western Province and the Stormers are his favourite teams, he may well change allegiance to the Sharks for practical reasons.
PE born, Bosch started playing rugby at Alexandra Primary School when he was none years of age and he has loved the game and everything about it ever since.
