The Garsfontein, Blue Bulls U18 and SA Schools flank dreams of playing for Western Province and the Stormers.
EIGHT THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HIM
– Grew up in Ravensmead, Cape Town, with his parents and three older siblings.
– Attended Hoërskool Tygerberg and played for Western Province at the U16 Grant Khomo Week in 2012.
– Moved to Pretoria at the start of 2013, after he signed for the Blue Bulls, and enrolled at Hoërskool Garsfontein.
– Played at the U18 Craven Week for the Blue Bulls in 2013.
– Was on the Blue Bulls team bus back to Pretoria, after the completion of Craven Week, when he was called up by a Bulls official to congratulate him on his selection for the SA Schools squad. He only believed he had been picked after he confirmed his selection online.
– He will only be in Grade 11 in 2014.
– He’s played Craven Week for the Bulls, but still supports their arch-rivals WP and the Stormers.
TOERIEN ON …
HIS RUGBY HERO GROWING UP
‘My dad, Peter, is still my hero. His [Western Province] rugby attire was always on show in our house, and that made him a superhero for a little boy. When I started playing rugby, he’d go to every rugby match I played, and go with me to practice sessions – we sometimes even had our own where we worked on things he thought I could improve on. He could do no wrong in my eyes.’
FAVOURITE RUGBY PLAYER AT THE MOMENT
‘Siya Kolisi. We play the same position and he plays for my home teams [WP and Stormers]. I look up to him and tell myself: one day, I’m going to wear that [Springbok] jersey.’
FAVOURITE SPORTING MOMENT
‘The 1995 World Cup final. I wasn’t even born then, but I saw the footage and it gave me goosebumps every time. It was so inspiring and not just in a sporting context.’
HIS BEST GAME IN 2013
‘My first game for the SA Schools side against England. I’ve always wondered why people make such a big fuss about a jersey. When I pulled that green and gold jersey over my head, I got the answer and I became emotional when we sang the national anthem. I wasn’t playing for the Springboks, but I was still representing my country and its people. We won that game 19-14 and I think I played well. It’s a day engraved in my memory.’
HIS SUPER RUGBY ASPIRATIONS
‘No one can ever say they’re good enough to play for the Springboks. The competition is tough and not many can make the step up to the level of quality that international rugby requires. At the very least, I want to play Super Rugby. While I am contracted by the Bulls, I’d love to play for Western Province and the Stormers. I’m a Cape Town boytjie – that’s what most boys in the province dream of.’
