Rugby firsts

Springbok centurion WILLIE LE ROUX takes us on a trip back in time

- words JOSH GRAHAM

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.