Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Ten or 80 minutes, it’s all still a dream for Harlon
Honoured to play with Newman, but De Jongh is who he looks up to
PARTNERING Juan de Jongh in the Stormers midfield would be the ultimate high for Hamiltons centre Harlon Klaasen. But for now, he has to settle for carving up opposition defences in the Western Province Super League A.
Like De Jongh, Klaasen also hails from the Boland region and has made the move to Cape Town to further his rugby career.
And it was a chat with former Springbok wing McNeil Hendricks that set the wheels in motion for Klaasen’s move from Malmesbury to Sea Point at the start of the year.
‘No one knows me over here; in Boland, people knew who I was, so it makes it tougher.’
“I spoke with McNeil Hendricks and asked him if he knows someone or a club in Cape Town where I can come and play, and then he hooked me up with Moolies (Hamiltons coach Anton Moolman) and he gave me the opportunity to play here,” Klaasen said.
“I’m very honoured to play with guys such as Morgan Newman and Monty Dumond. When I got here, at first I spoke to no one, but now it’s like the guys are family.”
And family is important to the 22-year-old, who returns to Malmesbury every weekend if he doesn’t bring his parents down to Cape Town to watch his performances on the field.
And perform he has. The former Labori High School learner is making a huge impact for Hammies.
Having already played provincial rugby, Klaasen was also under no illusions as to how tough the Super League will be.
“I played in the Currie Cup before, so when I came here I thought that maybe it would be the same as provincial rugby. And it’s so exciting,” said Klaasen of the level of club competition in the Cape.
“No one knows me over here; in Boland, people knew who I was, so it makes it tougher.”
Luckily for him, he is manning the Hamiltons midfield with an experienced head in ex- Western Province and Cheetahs prospect, Newman.
And while Klaasen has immense respect for his club- mate, it is De Jongh who he really aspires to emulate.
“The flair he (De Jongh) has, that’s the type of player I like. He is unpredictable and always keeps the defenders guessing, so I really look up to him,” he said.
As humble as can be, Klaasen is one of the most pas- sionate people about the game of rugby.
And having left home to pursue his dream of playing in the blue- and- white hoops of Province, the youngster understands that every opportunity might be his last, and he will leave no stone unturned in making the most of it.
“When I play, I always play like it’s my last game. I don’t know if I will play again or if I’m going to wake up tomorrow, so I just enjoy my rugby and I thank God for the talent he gave me. So I’m just living the dream every 10 minutes or 80 minutes I play,” Klaasen said.