The Advertiser chats to new rugby club captain
In an exclusive chat, new Boksburg Rugby Club captain Travis Howell talks about life as a skipper, the exodus at the team and Bakkies Botha.
The loosehead prop replaces former captain and lock Dirk Bloem, who stepped down following the last campaign.
The Advertiser asked:
Q Since becoming captain, what have been your biggest challenges?
A The team has lost a lot of players from last season, so the first challenge is to help the coaching staff rebuild the team and to get the youngsters within the group to play with the seniors.
Q When did you start playing the game?
A I started playing in high school, I was 17-years-old at the time and I’ve been playing for 13 years now.
Q How did it all start?
A I played sports from a very young age, I played different kinds of sports including karate and soccer; then the rugby idea came about. [The rest as they say, was history].
Q Have you always been a prop?
A
No, (he chuckled). I started as a flank and then moved to hooker at club rugby. I picked up some weight along the way and ended up at prop.
Q What does being captain mean to you?
A I feel privileged to be captain and being part of the club’s rebuilding process. It also means helping the youngsters improve their craft. The team has lost a lot of guys from last season, in fact, there’s only four survivors: myself, Dirk Burger, Willem Botes and JP Joubert.
Q What do you in your extra time?
A Play in the Cape Town 10s, fishing, hunting and golf.
Q Take me through your schooling career, where did you do your studies?
A Went to Wychwood Primary School before moving to Primrose High School. I did my tertiary studies at UJ (University of Johannesburg) where I studied sports psychology.
Q How do prepare yourself for matches, any pre-match routines?
A No, not really. Just the typical warm-up sessions and motivating the guys.
Q Who’s your favourite local professional rugby player?
A He was a local player but not anymore: Bakkies Botha. He’s hard, physical – he’s your traditional rugby player who plays the traditional rugby.
Q And international player?
A Richie McCaw, chuckled the 30-year-old. Firstly, people love to hate him but he dominates; dominates games and he dominates the referees – a legend.
Q Which team do you support?
A The lads in the team won’t like this because most of them are Lions fans; I support the Bulls.
Q How do you think the Boks will do in this year’s World Cup?
A They’ll win it. I don’t know what it is with the Boks in World Cups but they always do well.
Q What’s your biggest honour/ as a rugby player?
A Playing for the u-19 Valke against guys like Schalk Burger and Bismarck du Plessis. We played in huge stadiums around the country, it was an amazing experience even though we got heavily beaten.
Q Who’s the character in the team?
A Willem Botes. He’s the joker and a bit of a ladies man. Ladies love him and I guess he loves them too. – @SabeloBoksburg
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Boksburg Rugby Club back in training
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