ELI SNYMAN’S star continues to rise in South African rugby after the former Young Sables forward was included in the Springbok Under-20 squad for the World Rugby Under-20 Championship to be held in Manchester, England, from June 7 to 25.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
Snyman, who has only been based down south for less than two years now, is part of the 28-man Junior Springboks squad which features the cream of youth rugby in South Africa.
The 20-year-old towering lock attended St John’s College in Harare before he was snapped up by the Vodacom Bulls franchise, who awarded him a scholarship to study and play rugby at the University of Pretoria.
He was vice-captain of the Zimbabwe Under-18 squad which took part at the 2014 edition of the annual Coca-Cola Craven Week tournament held in Middelburg, South Africa.
Despite losing all three matches during the week-long festival, the 2014 Zimbabwe Under-18 players attracted the attention of scouts from several South African rugby unions and universities.
Prop Stephen Bhasera, who was captain of the side, was also signed by the University of Johannesburg and was part of the Golden Lions Under-19 last year while loose forward Daniel Nyamugama has also been doing well at the University of Free State.
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However, Snyman, who turned down a call-up to the Zimbabwe Under-20 side for the recent Junior World Rugby Trophy, has been the most consistent of the three players since his move to South Africa.
He was named vice-captain of the Pretoria-based franchise’s Under-19 side in his debut season before being named the Blue Bulls Under-19 Forward of the Year at the club’s end of year awards at Loftus in Pretoria.
Snyman, who now looks set to become the latest Zimbabwe-born player to play for the Springboks, will be hoping to continue his rapid rise by doing well for the Junior Springboks.
South Africa’s Under-20 side is aiming to do better this year after finishing third at the international showpiece in Italy last year.
The Baby Boks will kick off the 2016 international spectacle against Japan, June 7 at the Academy Stadium, before taking on Argentina on June 11 at the AJ Bell Stadium, and France on June 15 back at the Academy Stadium in the pool stages.
The team will play their first official warm-up match on Friday at Wits University in Johannesburg against the Golden Lions Under-19 and Under-21 teams, with an eye on sharpening up their game before the tournament.
This will be followed by clashes against Maties in Stellenbosch on Tuesday, May 17 and the SWD Eagles in Oudtshoorn on Saturday May 21, with the team set to depart for the international showpiece on June 2.
