Leon Stevens - Pietermaritzburg College Captain
Player Profile
Goldstones, the legendary fortress, of Maritzburg College plays host to another rousing encounter this Saturday as Glenwood of Durban travel north for a FNB Classic Clash. Leon Stevens captains College from the side of the scrum.
Leon Stevens was born in Rustenburg on 26 January 1988. Leon has rugby in his blood, his dad (who unfortunately passed away when Leon was four years old) having played for Transvaal Under-21 in his day. His family moved to Kwazulu-Natal when he was in Grade Two and he attended Scottsville Primary School before graduating to Maritzburg College in Grade Eight. Leon is currently in Grade 12 and is deputy headboy of the school, an honour he is enjoying despite the hard work involved.
Leon has been a loose-forward his entire life and is playing in his second year in the College 1st XV. He played eighthman up until this year, but has now moved to the blindside flank – a position more suited to his strengths as a strong ball-carrier and defender. He played for the Kwazulu-Natal Under-16 team at the Grant Khomo Week in 2004 and made the Nike Green Squad. Last year he played for KZN Academy B team and this year he has been selected for the Academy A-team. Naturally Leon was disappointed to miss out on selection for the Craven Week team. There is hope on the horizon though because the No.8 who was selected, Pierre Davids of Kearsney, is currently injured. Leon will be playing in his place in a warm-up game for the Craven Week side on Wednesday afternoon and is hoping to get in the backdoor as it were.
Leon's rugby hero is a Hilton old boy, Gary Teichmann. Having read his autobiography Leon says that not only did he enjoy the way Teichmann played and lead the Springboks but also his outlook on life.
Despite having a relatively experienced team College didn't start the year well, losing all three their games at the Grey High School Festival and taking a hammering from rivals Grey College. Leon says that after those initial defeats the coaches gave the players more freedom and the players began enjoying each other and their rugby again. They have all but turned their season around and their win over high-riding Affies last Saturday says it all about where the team are now. A team that to a man defends resolutely and with commitment for 80 minutes is truly a team – there can be no doubt that the College 1st XV have now bonded!
College have a well-balanced team this year with a small, but fleet-footed back three, who are willing to take the ball wide and counter-attack at any opportunity. They have not lost at home on the Goldstones field for two years and they don't intend doing so on Saturday afternoon.
Glenwood though are also going well this season and are riding high on the confidence gained from their big win over DHS two weeks ago. Leon reckons Goldstones is worth at least 12 points to his team so despite their powerhouse pack and the presence of the talented Ian Adedorff in midfield Glenwood are going to have to play out of their socks to win this one.
Leon hopes to study marketing management next year, but has not decided where yet. It looks likely he'll attend either the Sharks Academy or Stellenbosch University. Leon says his College team has always had close games against Glenwood at his age-group level and it looks like being another tight one on Saturday.
