YOUNG GUNS

EUANGROENEWALD SCOTLAND U20s BACK ROW

South African-born Scotland U20s loose forward Euan Groenewald believes his side’s miserable run at U20 level will end shortly and that ‘they can build into the powerhouse’ he knows they can be.

Scotland are on a run of 14 defeats at U20s level after finishing bottom of the both the eight-team Summer Series and Six Nations.

However, Groenewald, who played against Wales in last month’s tournament, believes Scotland have the potential to turn their form around.

He said: “There’s quite a few youngsters in that team that have just played in the Summer Series so I think the youth coming through Scotland now is good.

“There’s a few 17, 18, 19-year-olds in there so they have a few years to play together. It’s a good bunch with no real egos, so if they can stick together, they can end the losing slump and build into the powerhouse I know they can be.”

Despite the results, Groenewald loved participating in his first age grade international rugby competition. “It was amazing – it was crazy representing my country and playing with new people and coaches, I enjoyed every single minute of it,” he said.

“It was such a great platform to showcase my abilities and express who I am. It’s a huge privilege and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

Groenewald, 20, qualifies for Scotland through his Scottish mother and his split loyalties mean he would be happy to represent either nation at Test level.

He said: “I’m a proud South African but Scotland is my heritage as well. I’ve been brought up supporting Scotland as well, my first ever rugby jersey was a Scotland one. I’m still in love with Scotland, so I don’t mind whichever way it goes – I’d be proud to represent either country.”

Groenewald started playing rugby at 14 after joining rugby-mad school Bishops, which has produced numerous Springboks including Dillyn Leyds, Francois Louw and Robbie Fleck.

“If you go to a school like that it’s basically rugby or nothing! I fell in love with the game straight away,” he said. “I wasn’t the best player on the park when I first arrived but when you’re in the boarding house there you play touch rugby and are constantly developing your skills.”

Groenewald is a Varsity Cup winner with the University of Pretoria, where he played all seven games this season and scored two tries. Pretoria Tuks beat NWU Eagles 29-23 in the final in front of a big crowd with the game broadcast on national television.

Groenewald said: “All the students come to watch it, it’s a big event and is the closest thing to professional rugby. The game was held in my hometown of Cape Town, so it was great that my family could all be there as well.”

Groenewald started playing rugby as a versatile back playing centre or full-back and after watching the 2015 World Cup, he began to idolise All Blacks stars before making a positional switch to the forwards.

He added: “I enjoyed watching Ma’a Nonu and Sonny Bill Williams because the All Blacks were the No.1 team. I changed to a loose forward at U16, so I’d look up to Michael Hooper. He’s not the biggest loose forward and

I’m not either (15st 1lb and 6ft), but his ability to get around the park and what he does off the ball stood out for me.”