City’s own ‘Blitzbok’ reaches 100 milestone
THE MILESTONE of 100 games for the Blitzboks is quite a big deal for a player, but behind the scenes that figure of 100 is pretty special too. Local lad, Hugh Everson will be doing duty as physiotherapist for the Blitzbokke in his 100th game tomorrow in the Cape Town leg of the HSBC World Sevens Series.
Everson (pictured) is only the second physiotherapist on the HSBC World Sevens Series tour to reach the milestone of 100 games, so this is a pretty big feather in the cap of the young man.
Everson used to be the physiotherapist at Griqua rugby many years ago, but since 2007 he has been keeping the Blitzboks fit and agile. Back in 2007 then coach Paul Treu approached Everson and managed to bring him on board for the South African Sevens team.
He moved to Cape Town in that year, and started in private practice at the Milnerton Mediclinic. In the Cape Everson was first involved with the SA Schools teams and the Springbok Under-19 teams before officially hooking up with the Blitzboks.
“I am very blessed to have the job,” said Everson. “Many people would love to be able to do what I do for a living and still travel the world.”
However, it’s not all about patching up rugby players for the young man. When he is not involved with the Blitzboks Everson spends time at his private practice and with his son Kieran; and he has made no secret of the fact that one of the highlighted items on his bucket list is to take Kieran to Disneyland.
Everson says that whenever he meets people from Kimberley, they are proud of him and his achievements.
“The people of Kimberley had a role to play in my development into the person that I have become. I grew up in a community where there was a culture of ‘your child is my child’.
“I try my best to be an inspiration to youngsters, to show them that through hard work and dedication and getting an opportunity, one can make your dreams a reality. The most important aspect in my life is my family.
“My wife Tanya has been my rock through the years,” he says.