Rugby break for brothers
TWO brothers – both playing in the same position in their respective rugby teams – will make their Super Rugby debuts this year.
Pretoria boys Juan Schoeman, 24, known by his fellow players, family and friends as “Husky”, and his younger brother, Pierre Schoeman, 21, have both been included in their teams’ selections for their respective unions.
Juan, who is now on a trip to France, is a contracted Sharks player, and Pierre is contracted with the Blue Bulls. They are both set to be involved in the warm-up matches ahead of the Super Rugby season, which kicks off later this month.
Both brothers play loosehead prop. A statement from the players’ management described Juan, a former Bulls player who joined the Sharks in July last year, as dedicated and hard-working.
Pierre has been part of the Blue Bulls since 2013.
The brothers’ mother, Mari Haywood, said they were “born and bred” rugby players and had been involved in the sport from an early age.
“Steady progress and very hard work and dedication ensured their performance for their school (Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool, also known as Affies) first-team rugby. Juan was selected and played in the Blue Bulls Craven Week Team of 2009,” she said.
“Pierre was the captain of the first team for Affies, the Blue Bulls Craven Week Team and the SA’s team of 2012.” Haywood noted that their dad, Johan, had been a keen rugby player at Nelspruit Hoërskool.
She said the pair had always been inseparable and missed each other every day, even when at one stage competing for the same position.
“Their biggest goal and dream is to pull the green and gold jersey over their heads and play for the Springbok rugby team,” she said.
Daniel and Jean-Luc du Preez, 20-year-old twins who attended Kearsney College, have both featured for the Sharks in a warm-up match this season.
Their brother, Robert du Preez, 22, is a Western province and Stormers player.