Samuel Badenhorst, an 18-year-old matric learner at Paul Roos Gimnasium, aspires to follow in the footsteps of his legendary grandfather, Jan Boland Coetzee, a former Springbok flank and renowned figure in the wine industry. Inspired by his grandfather’s toughness and fearless play under the mentorship of Danie Craven, Samuel has already made a mark in rugby, playing for the South African U18B sevens team and winning a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games. This year, he played for the South African U18A team, defeating Georgia. Samuel dreams of playing for the Junior Boks and, ultimately, the Springboks.
During a visit to his grandfather’s home in Stellenbosch, Samuel shared his ambitions with Marguerite van Wyk of Rapport, while reflecting on the pride and influence his grandfather has had on his rugby journey. Jan Boland Coetzee, despite the visible signs of aging, still takes great pride in his grandson’s achievements and follows his rugby career closely. Samuel plans to enjoy his rugby first before pursuing further studies, focusing on his goal of donning the Green and Gold jersey one day.
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