Du Preez making big impact in EP rugby

By George Byron

IF anyone epitomises the dramatic rise of Eastern Province rugby this season then it is burly flank Cornell du Preez.

The 21-year-old has been a pillar

of strength during the Kings’ unbeaten 13-match streak in the Currie Cup

First Division

This bruising battering ram is at the heart of

EP’s powerful

pack and will

be one of the key players when the Kings enter a series of tough playoff matches at the end of the season.

A product of Framesby High, there was never any doubt that the powerful flank would develop into a top professional.

Rugby runs deep in Cornell’s blood and his father Gerhard packed down as a lock in the EP scrum alongside giant Springbok Adri

Geldenhuys during the 1990s.

"I watched all my Dad’s matches and was always around as a ball boy or something when I was growing up,” said Du Preez.

After starring in the Framesby team, Du Preez left Port Elizabeth to study Sports Science at North West University in Potchefstroom.

His talents were soon spotted and Du Preez became a regular member of the Leopards under-19 and u-21 teams in the Currie Cup.

He made such an impression that he was included in the Baby Bok team to play at the IRB Junior World Championship in Italy last year.

"It was one of my proudest moments when my name was called out to represent the South African under-20 team,” said Du Preez.

"The trip to Italy was fantastic and it was memorable to wear the green and gold and to sing the national anthem. Our match against England was also a big highlight.”

It was his selection for the Baby Boks that indirectly led to Du Preez returning to his home town.

"The

Baby Boks played a warm-up

match against the Kings and EP manager Sydney Goba got my contact details and one thing led to another.

"I wanted to come here because I realised EP were on the rise and that Super Rugby was on the horizon,”

said Du Preez.

This year the flank has been one of the standout players in the EP team and earned the man of the match award when he scored a hat-trick of

tries for the Kings against the Bulldogs in East London.

"That was

a game I was not supposed to have played in because I was having a break because of the rotational policy employed by the Kings,” said Du Preez.

"On the Friday morning of the game I had a full gym session and then a gruelling workout on the sand dunes at Sardinia Bay which really punished my legs.

"Then, at 2.30pm,

I got a call from EP to say they wanted me to play that night because skipper Luke Watson had taken ill just hours before the game.

The powerful flank grabbed his unexpected chance with both hands to score a hat-trick of tries and earn the coveted man of the match award.

Though Du Preez said his father played a big role in his development, he says his coach at

Framesby, Louis Gerber and his mom, Elsa, also had a big impact on his development.

"I cannot say how much Louis did for me and my mom Elsa was fantastic. At one stage at Framesby I was a centre and I used to be the kicker as well.

"Well my mom used to kick the ball back to me when I had training kicks at the poles. We did it for hours and we also used to have a few games of touch rugby,” recalled Du Preez.

The big flank says

EP have managed to string together an

unbeaten 13-match run in the Currie Cup First Division thanks to their fantastic team spirit.

"I think we are a brilliant group of guys and the vibe in the team is awesome. We have a rotational policy and everyone in the squad makes a contribution which is vital for our success.

Though Du Preez has only started out on his professional career he has very clear ideas on how he would like to be remembered when he retires one day.

"I would like to think I am someone that young kids can look up to as a role model. I don’t just want to be someone who plays rugby and gets money out of it.”

This is a shortened version of an article that appeared in the print edition of the Weekend Post on Saturday, September 29, 2012.