By Peter Ryan – @PeterRyanSports
Over the past decade, there has been a trend of players coming from overseas to compete for European countries.
Many notable examples exist of players representing a country they do not originate from. This has become the new norm.
In the Southern Hemisphere, many hidden gems may not get the chance to shine for their home countries, so they play in Europe.
There is a rising star playing for the Vodacom Bulls who is on the radar of the Springboks. Cameron Hanekom has been making waves in the URC and looks set to become an international star soon.
Although he would like to become a Springbok, Warren Gatland will closely monitor the young backrower because Hanekom is Welsh-qualified through his grandmother.
A Trend
As stated before, there is a trend of players switching nations to play international rugby. Scotland was the trendsetter in this area, having introduced the Scottish Qualified Program.
This is when Scotland would identify players outside the country who were eligible to wear the jersey. Many influential players, like Ali Price and Hamish Watson, are products of this system.
Gregor Townsend’s team has welcomed many South Africans. Kyle Steyn, Duhan van der Merwe, and Pierre Schoeman have contributed significantly to Scotland and are a big part of this ‘Golden Generation.’
Talent is abundant in South African rugby at every level, so many skilled players do not get the opportunity to play for the Springboks. It’s not just Scotland; many players from overseas make a seismic impact in different nations. Hanekom looks likely to wear the green and gold jersey, but Gatland should do everything he can to bring him to Wales.
Cameron Hanekom
One of the most promising talents in world rugby today, Hanekom has garnered a lot of attention, and rightfully so. He has been a standout performer in a strong Bulls side since breaking onto the senior scene in 2022.
At the under-20s level, he put in many outstanding performances for South Africa, demonstrating his immense potential.
The 22-year-old is coming off a fantastic season, where he was ranked 86th in the URC. Breaking down his attributes on the pitch, Hanekom is a dynamic runner, a fierce tackler, and sensational over the ball.
Even in the early stages of this season, his tackling has stood out, making 33 tackles without missing a single one in his first two games.
Looking back at last season highlights his quality. While he excels around the park, his turnovers and offloads were particularly impressive.
You would expect a quality backrower like Hanekom to make crucial turnovers, but his offloading ability adds a different dimension to his game, illustrating that he is the perfect modern-day backrower.
The fact that Hanekom is only 22 is remarkable, as he has plenty of room to grow and develop into a world-class player. Any team he plays for will be fortunate to have him.
Do Wales Have a Shot at Securing His Services?
At the moment, it seems unlikely that Welsh fans will ever see Hanekom don the famous red jersey.
Hanekom was selected for the South African squad over the summer but could not be capped due to injury, so we will likely see him debut for South Africa in the autumn.
Bulls’ head coach, Jake White, has already stated there is no chance the young player would leave for Wales. However, if, for some reason, Gatland were to have the opportunity to cap him, it’s safe to say he would jump at the chance.
Hanekom is Welsh-qualified, and his brother Storm even spent a season training with the Dragons. The Bulls player is a phenomenal talent and would be a major acquisition for Gatland and his team.
Hanekom is an exciting prospect, and it will be fascinating to see what the future holds for the young South African.
