Garsfontein is once again being accused of aggressive scouting and the "buying" of talent in the Western Cape and the Boland region.
In an article by News24 on Saturday, Bennie van Rooi, president of the Boland Rugby, claimed that Boland is the biggest rugby union in South Africa. He added that one of the major stumbling blocks in the success of Boland rugby is that the Vodacom Bulls is financially assisting Garsfontein Hoërskool to "buy" the talent from his Union.
This statement alone should give away how "knowledgeable" and "involved" mr van Rooi is in schoolboy rugby and his own Union.
However, for entertainment purposes let's discuss the allegations made regarding Garsfontein and in the process forget the opportunities other top high schools make available to talented rugby players from underdeveloped areas and Unions.
It is well known that Garsfontein has and still is identifying talented children and giving them opportunities to attend Garsfontein Hoërskool.
Amid these allegations stand Gustav Theunissen who spearheads their highly successful talent identification drive, which became the cornerstone of the revival of Garsfontein rugby and the school as a whole.
Mr Theunissen is always quick to add that this is an effort by Garsfontein with several people playing a vital role in the success stories Garsfontein can tell.
Several talented players identified by mr. Theunissen is from extremely poor families across South Africa, not only from the Boland and/or Western Cape, and is desperate to escape from their futile future.
Special care is given to "challenges" some of the children scouted faces with some being hosted personally by mr Theunissen when needed. This ensures that Garsfontein is able to provide the "star" with a quality education combined with developing his talents on the rugby fields to the fullest.
Garsfontein has "produced" several rugby players that currently play rugby across the world, giving opportunities to these boys that would have stayed undeveloped if it was not for the role Garsfontein played in their lives.
List Of Players That Played Professional Rugby After School. (2012-2021)
Hyron Andrews , George Lee Erasmus, Ruan Ackerman, Le Roux Rpets, Franco Naude, Jan-Henning Campher, Embrose Papier, Brendon Verster, Shaun Williams, Ruan Henning, PJ Steenkamp, Austin Davids, Lincoln Davids, Ryno Pieterse, Stephan Smit, Hendre Eloff, Divan de Clerq, Gustacv Meyer, Diego Appollis, Keagan Johannes, Jordan van Dyk, Gerhard van der Merwe, Wikus Basson, Jaco Bezuidenhout, Jarred Scheepers, Raynard Roets, Zeilinga Strydom, Geraldo Flusk, Kwagga van der Nest, Carlton Bannies, Ruan Delport, Hardus Rothman, Rowan Cloete, Jurich Claassens, PJ Steenkamp.
Taking into account the success of Garsfontein one can rightfully ask mr van Rooi, with the number of players available to Boland why are they a struggling Rugby Union? Also, he must clarify his understanding of player development he claimed Boland provides for their schoolboy rugby players and please add a list of players that were successful due to Boland rugby's development.
May the Garsfontein Bus' travels be blessed and if mr van Rooi is not careful, Garsfontein might just pick up a van Rooi'tjie to be developed in Pretoria. For the sake of children.