Six years ago to the day, a 16-year-old Paarl Boys’ High School rugby player by the name of Jozua Francois Malherbe played his first match at the 2007 Grant Khomo Week as a member of the Western Province Under-16 squad.
That WP U16 team won one of its three matches at that Grant Khomo Week, which was held from July 2-6, 2007, but that squad has since produced the likes of Frans Malherbe (as he is now known in the rugby world), as well as Francois van Wyk, Nizaam Carr and Rick Schroeder – all of whom have gone on to play senior rugby for WP.
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Malherbe, of course, was part of last year’s Absa Currie Cup-winning DHL Western Province team, having already played 29 matches for DHL WP and 32 games for the DHL Stormers since his senior debut in 2011.
“I often think back to the Grant Khomo Week… and Craven Week,” said Malherbe this week, “it brings back some awesome memories for me.
“The Grant Khomo Week was the first time I wore the Blue & White hoops, so I will never forget it,” he added.
“I know that Craven Week starts next week, and it’s on TV, so I will be sure to catch some of our matches when they’re televised – it is, after all, the breeding ground of new talent in the province and our country.”
After his Grant Khomo experience in Durban in 2007, Malherbe progressed to the Under-18 Coca-Cola Craven Week side in 2008 (in Pretoria), before being named vice-captain for the 2009 Craven Week tournament in East London – a year which also saw him selected for the SA Schools team.
In those two years of Craven Week rugby, Malherbe – at some point – played alongside the likes of future DHL WP/Stormers stars Nizaam Carr, Reniel Hugo, Reuben Johannes, Helmut Lehmann, Taz Fuzani, Rick Schroeder, Craig Barry, Eben Etzebeth, Steven Kitshoff, Jody Reyneke, Louis Schreuder and Wilhelm van der Sluys.
“I made some good friends back then,” said Malherbe, “many of whom are still my teammates today and many of whom were part of our winning Currie Cup team (from) last year! It’s quite scary to think that we were still at school four years ago.
“I also remember playing against Scarra (Ntubeni) and Siya (Kolisi) at Craven Week, but we were already friends by then – having played against each other quite a bit at youth level (before then).”
Whilst Malherbe does not consider himself a seasoned pro, the 22-year-old did have some wise words for those players representing Western Province at the various youth weeks in 2013.
“My advice would be for those players to enjoy the moment… to take it all in,” said Malherbe.
“We have a huge amount of depth in the Western Cape, with a lot of top rugby-playing schools, so it’s a huge honour just to be there representing a proud (province) like Western Province.
“But, at the same time, it’s important for the guys to enjoy themselves and to express themselves… it’s memories that will last forever!”
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Meanwhile, Malherbe remains hopeful of playing rugby again this year – despite picking up a serious ankle injury during the DHL Stormers’ tour of Australasia in mid-May.
Malherbe suffered a syndesmosis tear and has since undergone surgery and is currently busy with a full rehabilitation programme.
“I am doing rehabilitation at the WP Rugby Institute in Stellenbosch, which is quite handy for me as I live close by,” said the powerful prop, who tips the scales at a hefty 120 kilograms.
“I am off crutches now, but still in a moon boot, so I need to remain patient. I certainly won’t rush back, and want to ensure that I am 100% ready before I return, but I am missing the game and being with my teammates.”