Stiaan Smit - HTS Vereeniging Captain

Ball-playing prop forward looks up to Bok star Os du Randt

As headboy of HTS Vereeniging, Stiaan Smith leads his school and his team on Saturday against Transvalia in an FNB Classic Clash.

Stiaan Smit was born in Vereeniging, into a rugby playing family, on 4 July 1988. Having a father who represented Vaal Triangle in 70 games and an older brother who also excelled at the game, Stiaan was always going to play serious rugby. After attending Laerskool Russiewill he graduated to HTS Vereeninging in Grade Eight. Stiaan says he is enjoying the honour of been headboy of this co-ed technical school with over 800 pupils.

Stiaan is a loosehead prop who stands 1,89 metres tall and weighs 100 kilograms. He represented the Falcons Under-13 Craven Week team and last year played for the Falcons Academy side. This is his third year is the HTS Vereeniging team of which his father, André, is the coach.

Stiaan rates his ability in the scrums as his strength, but is he is handy around the park with ball in hand as well. He likes to think that like his hero Os du Randt he is a well-balanced player. Stiaan is hoping to make the Falcons Craven Week team this year and then next year move to the University of Johannesburg to study mechanical engineering and play rugby.

HTS Vereeniging have a powerful pack of forwards and Stiaan's pack will be looking to lay the platform for a derby win on Saturday. Strong scrumming and mauling will be the order of the day before releasing the ball to the backs.

Having lost to Transvalia two weeks ago, HTS Vereeniging go into the game as underdogs, but Stiaan says that the loss may have been a good thing. Their minds are now more focused and they are even more motivated than before.

Stiaan is confident that they can turn the tables. His team are humble, but positive ahead of the biggest game of the season.