Gloucester poaching WP youngster

[OomStruisbaai]

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/gloucest ... king-move/

Gloucester sign duel-qualified SA teenager in 'ground-breaking move'

Gloucester have confirmed the signing of a dual-qualified South African teenager – Gareth Blackmore – to their academy.

The 18-year-old Blackmore, who was attached to the Western Province rugby union, is qualified to play for both South Africa and England will be enrolled in Hartpury College’s rugby programme from January.

Blackmore was born in Richard’s Bay near Durban, South Africa, before moving down to Cape Town in 2013. He broke into Rondebosch 1st XV a year early as a hooker, although he also able to play in the back row

Last year Blackmore captained the Rondebosch Boys’ High School first XV in a season in which they excelled, breaking numerous school 1st XV records. He was subsequently selected for Western Province Schools in South Africa’s provincial tournament, The Craven Week, which Western Province Schools won.

“We are absolutely thrilled to have signed Gareth Blackmore in a ground-breaking move,” said Director of Academy & Development Carl Hogg. “Gareth is a very highly rated young South African player, who has attracted attention from several provincial sides, but with his grandparents born in the UK he has chosen to pursue his professional rugby career here at Gloucester Rugby.

[Margin__Walker]

Is it ground-breaking?

Been a few of these players move north after school. Alex Groves for example a few years ago.

[Biffer]

Jordan Venter did similar when he moved to Edinburgh, but the circumstances of his personal life were such that it could be understandable that he wanted to start again in a new country.

[OomStruisbaai]

Saffacans working with Sharks ? Look like England struggling with their own youth rugby talent.

[OomStruisbaai]

Is it ground-breaking?

Been a few of these players move north after school. Alex Groves for example a few years ago.

Rugbypass isn't they an English site?

[Margin__Walker]

Is it ground-breaking?

Been a few of these players move north after school. Alex Groves for example a few years ago.

Rugbypass isn't they an English site?

Not actually sure where they are based.

Journo there seems to be based in Dublin. It's the bloke from Gloucester calling it ground breaking tbf.

[JM2K6]

Let's hope the poor Saffer kid isn't too overwhelmed by the bright lights and sophistication of Gloucester

[Sandstorm]

Let's hope the poor Saffer kid isn't too overwhelmed by the bright lights and sophistication of Gloucester

Richards Bay isn’t like Vegas either.

[SaintK]

Is it ground-breaking?

Been a few of these players move north after school. Alex Groves for example a few years ago.

Rugbypass isn't they an English site?

Dublin based and owned by World Rugby!

[FalseBayFC]

Hardly groundbreaking. Saw quite a lot of him at Rondebosch and Craven Week this year. Solid kid but there are better loosies and hookers in his age group. Luke Graham who played in the same Craven Week is apparently also England qualified and looking to move there. He's a great young winger.
edit - I believe Luke Graham has signed with Bath Academy.

[assfly]

Let's hope the poor Saffer kid isn't too overwhelmed by the bright lights and sophistication of Gloucester

A steady supply of electricity will blow him away.

[sockwithaticket]

Gloucester sign duel-qualified SA teenager in 'ground-breaking move'

Sabre or pistol?

Saffacans working with Sharks ? Look like England struggling with their own youth rugby talent.

English rugby certainly has its issues, but this is definitely not of them. There is a constant stream of young English talent pouring out of clubs' academies.

Can't blame a young lad for getting out of South Africa if he has the opportunity to do so.

[SaintK]

Saffacans working with Sharks ? Look like England struggling with their own youth rugby talent.

Oh dear!
Saracens have had links with the Sharks for years. They also have development links with clubs in parts of Europe, the USA and South America

[JM2K6]

Let's hope the poor Saffer kid isn't too overwhelmed by the bright lights and sophistication of Gloucester

A steady supply of electricity will blow him away.

Actually I think they're hoping his experience of rolling blackouts will help the team during the winter

[OomStruisbaai]

Hardly groundbreaking. Saw quite a lot of him at Rondebosch and Craven Week this year. Solid kid but there are better loosies and hookers in his age group. Luke Graham who played in the same Craven Week is apparently also England qualified and looking to move there. He's a great young winger.
edit - I believe Luke Graham has signed with Bath Academy.

Two Paul Rosers nogals

https://www.bathrugby.com/academy-news/ ... additions/

Luke Graham has been excellent this year.

[OomStruisbaai]

Maties vs Oxford

[Chilli]

Let's hope the poor Saffer kid isn't too overwhelmed by the bright lights and sophistication of Gloucester

A steady supply of electricity will blow him away.

What's that?

[FalseBayFC]

Gloucester sign duel-qualified SA teenager in 'ground-breaking move'

Sabre or pistol?

Saffacans working with Sharks ? Look like England struggling with their own youth rugby talent.

English rugby certainly has its issues, but this is definitely not of them. There is a constant stream of young English talent pouring out of clubs' academies.

Can't blame a young lad for getting out of South Africa if he has the opportunity to do so.

And move to a country that consistently votes in the Tories. British government increasingly looks like ours in SA. Incompetent, venal and corrupt.

[OomStruisbaai]

Luckily the English clubs don't need to sponsor a teachers like Montperrier do at Grey College

Grey College announced on its website that the programme had committed to making the following changes in three areas over the next five years:

– It will fund the appointment, by Grey College, of a French language teacher for a period of five years.

– It is expected to provide funding support to at least 50 scholarship holders which translates into partial funding support of over 200 student years. Scholarships will be awarded to students on an unconditional basis and without recourse or any other obligation during, or post- study at Grey College.

– The donor of the programme has secured a commitment from Montpellier Rugby Club in France to make available, to Grey College, resources including a commitment to sharing coaching methods and exchange programmes for rugby coaches.

Badawi Scholarships will enable scholarship holders to attend Grey College and will be awarded, on a means-tested basis, to individuals who do not have similar alternatives readily available to them. Scholarships holders will be individuals with demonstrated potential in leadership and/or academia and the sport of rugby.
Montpellier signed professional players from South Africa, like Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis and Frans Steyn, who are all Grey College old boys. They liked the work rate of these players, as they were the first to arrive at training and often stayed long afterwards to work on their skills. Often these players would say that Grey College gave them that work rate.

[OomStruisbaai]

Now it's Leister Tigers

English club Leicester Tigers have confirmed the signing of South African young gun Cameron Miell.

The versatile forward, who can operate throughout the pack, has joined Leicester's Senior Academy from Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch where he was a member of the school's first team for the past two seasons.

"I am delighted to be awarded this fantastic opportunity with Leicester Tigers and cannot wait to test myself and learn in such a world-class environment," Miell told Leicester's official website.

Interim Leicester head coach Richard Wigglesworth says he's been impressed by what he's seen from the youngster: "Cameron is a young man with a physical presence on the field and a lot of potential in the game.

"In a very short space of time, he has shown a real work ethic and desire to improve. We're excited to see what comes of Cameron and working with him to develop his game at Leicester Tigers."
Paul Roos will be close to the top of SA Schools rugby for a few years to come. Their u14-u16 has been in the top lot. Corne Uys has been building them in a force.

[OomStruisbaai]

[Zig]

They're still trying to work a Premier League soccer model, if you build it they will come with Global tv revenues, while most clubs are almost going bust.

England has the biggest player base and it's crazy that they're importing talent instead of refining their best home grown.

[OomStruisbaai]

They're still trying to work a Premier League soccer model, if you build it they will come with Global tv revenues, while most clubs are almost going bust.

England has the biggest player base and it's crazy that they're importing talent instead of refining their best home grown.

Even Chicago Bears scout Paul Roos fine rugby talents.

https://www.sapeople.com/2023/03/27/chi ... urth-year/

Chicago Bears signs South African NFL star Dieter Eiselen for fourth year
By
Jenni Baxter
-
Mar 27, 2023
South African expat Dieter Eiselen is proof that if you keep working towards something, good things will happen! The South African-American NFL offensive lineman has just been re-signed with the Chicago Bears for the fourth year!
US NFL (National Football League) sport content creator and podcast host, George Eghator, says the South African sportsman is a great example of how grit, hard work, determination and continuous hard grind can get you ahead.

In a recent podcast interview with George, Dieter says he was “very excited” when he first got the opportunity to be signed by the Chicago Bears. He said that if you had told him in 2014, when he first moved from South Africa to the USA, that he would one day play for the NFL he would never have believed it. At the time he was just trying to play at a university.

“I never had the NFL even in my head,” he told George. “And so the fact that I was able to get to that point and just finish my third year, now get re-signed for a fourth – I don’t think that if you told 16-year-old me that I would be here that he would believe you.”

Dieter says he’s “just going to keep going and not stop”.

Dieter was born and raised in Pretoria (although he spent the first four years living with his Afrikaans-speaking family on his grandfather’s farm outside Pretoria).

Like most South Africans, he was always rugby mad. He started playing at six, and dreamt of becoming a Springbok. He moved to a Stellenbosch school to play more rugby… but fell in love with weightlifting, and his dream shifted to becoming an Olympic weightlifter. In about 2012, he also developed a passion for downloading and watching NFL games, and by the time high school finished, he had his eye on studying in the US – “I kind of developed this idea in my head that I wanted to pursue football,” he told TheAthletic. “I really enjoy watching it and I think I have the physical tools to do it.”

He flew on his own to the US for a football camp, and “really enjoyed it”. He returned and enrolled at a school in Connecticut. One day he was coerced into going to a football camp he was too exhausted for, and it changed his life…

“I was tired and beat and so happy to not do anything, but (Coach Spinnato) forced me to go and it was the best thing I ever did. I don’t know if I was pissed off that I had to be there or whatever, but I was competing really hard against the other kids, and in 1-on-1s I was taking my aggression out on these kids.”

He performed so well that a head coach from Yale offered him a spot on the spot. He says it was “like we robbed a bank”… and it took the edge off missing friends and family back home. His parents were delighted for him to get the Yale opportunity.

The toughest challenge for Dieter was actually having to speak English every day.

Dieter says he’s an “eternal optimist” and he believes he could’ve become an Olympic weightlifter or professional rugby player, but he’s excited being an NFL player! He says: “When I want something, I’m not just saying it. I fully commit to something, and I fully believe everything is possible through hard work.”

Other South Africans who’ve done well with American football are Gary Anderson, Greg Joseph and Gerhard de Beer (a friend of Dieter’s).

Dieter’s still very proudly South African, and according to his Instagram page, is currently on holiday in the country (Sabi Sands photos below). Last year he made sure he had a South African (and US) flag on his helmet, and said: “I’ve had the privilege of representing South Africa on my helmet the past few weeks.

[JM2K6]

They're still trying to work a Premier League soccer model, if you build it they will come with Global tv revenues, while most clubs are almost going bust.

England has the biggest player base and it's crazy that they're importing talent instead of refining their best home grown.

Our "biggest player base" is wildly overstated. It's a complete sham. The alleged vast numbers of players basically don't exist, and 99.99% of the ones that do are irrelevant to professional rugby.

[Uncle fester]

It's an insanely big player base compared to the Celtic countries at least. Can't seem to find a way to tap into it though.

[Uncle fester]

They're still trying to work a Premier League soccer model, if you build it they will come with Global tv revenues, while most clubs are almost going bust.

England has the biggest player base and it's crazy that they're importing talent instead of refining their best home grown.

Even Chicago Bears scout Paul Roos fine rugby talents.

https://www.sapeople.com/2023/03/27/chi ... urth-year/

Chicago Bears signs South African NFL star Dieter Eiselen for fourth year
By
Jenni Baxter
-
Mar 27, 2023
South African expat Dieter Eiselen is proof that if you keep working towards something, good things will happen! The South African-American NFL offensive lineman has just been re-signed with the Chicago Bears for the fourth year!
US NFL (National Football League) sport content creator and podcast host, George Eghator, says the South African sportsman is a great example of how grit, hard work, determination and continuous hard grind can get you ahead.

In a recent podcast interview with George, Dieter says he was “very excited” when he first got the opportunity to be signed by the Chicago Bears. He said that if you had told him in 2014, when he first moved from South Africa to the USA, that he would one day play for the NFL he would never have believed it. At the time he was just trying to play at a university.

“I never had the NFL even in my head,” he told George. “And so the fact that I was able to get to that point and just finish my third year, now get re-signed for a fourth – I don’t think that if you told 16-year-old me that I would be here that he would believe you.”

Dieter says he’s “just going to keep going and not stop”.

Dieter was born and raised in Pretoria (although he spent the first four years living with his Afrikaans-speaking family on his grandfather’s farm outside Pretoria).

Like most South Africans, he was always rugby mad. He started playing at six, and dreamt of becoming a Springbok. He moved to a Stellenbosch school to play more rugby… but fell in love with weightlifting, and his dream shifted to becoming an Olympic weightlifter. In about 2012, he also developed a passion for downloading and watching NFL games, and by the time high school finished, he had his eye on studying in the US – “I kind of developed this idea in my head that I wanted to pursue football,” he told TheAthletic. “I really enjoy watching it and I think I have the physical tools to do it.”

He flew on his own to the US for a football camp, and “really enjoyed it”. He returned and enrolled at a school in Connecticut. One day he was coerced into going to a football camp he was too exhausted for, and it changed his life…

“I was tired and beat and so happy to not do anything, but (Coach Spinnato) forced me to go and it was the best thing I ever did. I don’t know if I was pissed off that I had to be there or whatever, but I was competing really hard against the other kids, and in 1-on-1s I was taking my aggression out on these kids.”

He performed so well that a head coach from Yale offered him a spot on the spot. He says it was “like we robbed a bank”… and it took the edge off missing friends and family back home. His parents were delighted for him to get the Yale opportunity.

The toughest challenge for Dieter was actually having to speak English every day.

Dieter says he’s an “eternal optimist” and he believes he could’ve become an Olympic weightlifter or professional rugby player, but he’s excited being an NFL player! He says: “When I want something, I’m not just saying it. I fully commit to something, and I fully believe everything is possible through hard work.”

Other South Africans who’ve done well with American football are Gary Anderson, Greg Joseph and Gerhard de Beer (a friend of Dieter’s).

Dieter’s still very proudly South African, and according to his Instagram page, is currently on holiday in the country (Sabi Sands photos below). Last year he made sure he had a South African (and US) flag on his helmet, and said: “I’ve had the privilege of representing South Africa on my helmet the past few weeks.

Stuck on practice squad duties IIRC?

[JM2K6]

It's an insanely big player base compared to the Celtic countries at least. Can't seem to find a way to tap into it though.

This wasn't anything to do with the celts, but we do lose a lot of players to them too as it happens

There's no way to "tap into" a player base of part time amateurs and fat old bastards that has any bearing on professional rugby.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

It's an insanely big player base compared to the Celtic countries at least. Can't seem to find a way to tap into it though.

We've got one of the highest numbers of professional clubs going. Which for all we employ people from around the world still relies an awful lot on the domestic players, in other words we very much tap into our player base.

If the charge is not all of that effort is directed at helping the test side, well fair enough, or if the charge is not all of that effort is near or even anywhere near top level test rugby then also fair enough. But not everything has to be about the test sides, and right now I don't know our Premiership has even been more enjoyable on the paddock

JM is right about the larger playing base being irrelevant however, 99.999% of players have got and will only ever have feck all to do with pro rugby, whether we can ever grow the game so 99.9999% of players are irrelevant to the pro scene I doubt, but we can always try.