Try GOLD - Free
Rugby firsts
Rugby World
|November 2025
Springbok centurion WILLIE LE ROUX takes us on a trip back in time
First rugby match as a fan? That would have been in Cape Town when my dad was playing club rugby for HELDERBERG IN STRAND - the town where I was from. I was a ballboy; you got five or ten rand for doing that, so you'd go and buy some coke or chips with it.
Your first rugby hero? PERCY MONTGOMERY was a guy I used to love watching. He had it all, he was incredible! He drove past me once when I was standing outside Newlands, he drove a Mini. His hair looked cool but I can’t grow that. His kicking, too, as a leftie.
First rugby boots? My dad got me some ADIDAS BOOTS even though I'm a Nike guy. They were black World Cups. I'm a plain black boot guy! I proudly wore them growing up when I was kicking it around in the back yard.
First rugby shirt? It must have been a SPRINGBOK T-SHIRT. It would have been about 1997 or 1998 when Nike supplied the kit.
This story is from the November 2025 edition of Rugby World.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Rugby World
Rugby World
Manuel Zuliani
AN OUTSTANDING AUTUMN UNDERLINED THE ITALIAN FLANKER'S VALUE TO AN AZZURRI TEAM SHOWING NEW LEVELS OF MATURITY
5 mins
March 2026
Rugby World
Grégory Alldritt
A KIND SCHEDULE AND POST-LIONS FATIGUE SWINGS THE BALL INTO FRANCE'S COURT. WILL ALLDRITT AND CO TAKE ADVANTAGE BY RETAINING THEIR TITLE?
5 mins
March 2026
Rugby World
Blair Murray
THE SCARLETS FULL-BACK HAS BEEN A RARE RAY OF LIGHT IN THIS GENERATIONAL WOEFUL RUN OF FORM FOR WALES
5 mins
March 2026
Rugby World
Rugby firsts
Get to know Bristol's dynamic hooker HARRY THACKER
2 mins
March 2026
Rugby World
WANDSWORTHIANS RFC
Giving grass-roots rugby the love that it deserves...
2 mins
March 2026
Rugby World
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
I WORK four days a week for Leading Edge Performance, one day a week at Sale Sharks and coach at Sedgley Park - I've been out of playing rugby for about six months now and it's a completely different world!“
1 mins
March 2026
Rugby World
Jamie Dobie
VERSATILITY IS GIVING THIS SCOTTISH HALF-BACK THE EDGE OVER THE COMPETITION FOR THE UPCOMING SIX NATIONS
6 mins
March 2026
Rugby World
ENGLAND BEGAN THEIR POST-2015 REBUILD
THE FUTURE was on our minds a decade ago as thoughts turned to fresh starts and new talent, writes Alan Pearey.
1 min
March 2026
Rugby World
A WEEKEND IN BRIVE WITH FR-UK
JOE WORSLEY takes us to his former club to spread the gospel of the French rugby experience in all its glory
6 mins
March 2026
Rugby World
All things come to those are great
The SPRINGBOKS and ALL BLACKS face off in the inaugural 'Greatest Rivalry' series in 2026. Will it grow the game or is it simply leaving others behind?
8 mins
March 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size
