Griquas wing Munier Hartzenberg shares a bit about himself on and off the field with SA Rugby magazine’s DEVIN HERMANUS.

How hard is the surface at Griqua Park?
I heard many things about that ground before I joined Griquas, but fortunately for me there’s been a lot of rain since January so the field has been quite soft. Apparently the ground gets harder in winter, so ja! I hope it goes well …

What has been your biggest challenge since going pro?
Stepping up from Varsity Cup in 2021, I’ve needed to deal with bigger players and their physicality, so I would like to add more muscle mass.

What has been the highlight for you?
Definitely getting my first cap for Griquas. It was a bit emotional for me. Considering where I come from, it means a lot.

If you had to sing karaoke with a teammate, who would you choose?
Nathan Nkutu, who has a good voice. And Luther Obi, who can sing Afrikaans songs well.

Who would be a better wing: Usain Bolt or Wayde van Niekerk?
Wayde van Niekerk. He would be much quicker getting into space.

Who has the most irritating fans: Liverpool or Manchester United?
I support Liverpool, so Manchester United!

Soapies or professional wrestling?
Soap operas. They always leave you on a cliffhanger and then you have to tune in to find out what’s happening next. Wrestling is entertaining, but not as interesting.

What do you miss most about playing for Maties?
The crowd and the atmosphere at Danie Craven Stadium, it was a special place to play. There was always hype and 17,000-plus fans who are familiar with you and would see you in class or around campus.

Which Bok wing would you like to emulate?
Bryan Habana. He was a phenomenal player and finisher, with pure pace and skill. He showed great accuracy in decision-making when he chip-kicked, and knew exactly when to do it. You could give him the ball in any space and he’d make something of it. I also admire his professionalism off the field.

Where would you like to be in the next five years?
I’ll be 30, so I would like to see myself running out in the green and gold. But rugby is unpredictable – one moment you can be playing for Maties, and the next for Griquas.

How do you spend your downtime?
I spend time with family and friends, playing video games or going to the driving range. Or even taking the dogs for a walk. It’s all just to take my mind off rugby, focus on recovery and relax.

Braaing or eating out with friends?
It’s more comfortable and casual when you’re chilling with your friends at a braai, sharing jokes and stories in an intimate environment. I also like to braai!

For more click here to subscribe to SA Rugby magazine.