Benhard Janse van Rensburg’s father believes growing up on a remote Limpopo farm gave his son the resilience that has carried him to the brink of an England Test debut.
The 29-year-old South African centre has been named on the bench for England’s Nations Championship match against Fiji in Liverpool on Saturday after becoming eligible to represent his adopted country on 8 July.
A former Junior Springbok, Janse van Rensburg played for the Leopards, Sharks, Kings and Cheetahs before establishing himself as one of the Premiership’s standout midfielders with the Bristol Bears.
His father, Gerhard, says rugby was only part of his son’s upbringing in Makoppa, 44km from Thabazimbi.
“When Benhard was a small boy, he didn’t go to pre-school,” he told the Daily Mail. “He learned more on the farm with me. He would sleep on the floor of the tractor while I was working.
“My boys have worked on the farm since they were 4ft tall. They drive the tractors, they work with cattle, they feed the animals.”
Gerhard believes those experiences shaped both his son’s character and rugby career.
“When [Bristol coach] Pat Lam said Benhard is farmstock, he was exactly right. Benhard has worked since he was six years old.
“Benhard is mentally tough. You can’t give up out here. If something breaks, you must fix it … You will never see Benhard bitching with a referee because from a small boy on the farm, I taught him that you must keep going.”
His mother, Zanie, recalled how Janse van Rensburg’s rugby journey began at a tiny farm school.
“He played in the first team from Grade 1 because there were only 17 boys in the school. They always lost. They were always defending. That’s how he learned how to tackle!”
Later, at Hoërskool Frikkie Meyer in Thabazimbi, Janse van Rensburg continued to develop despite regularly coming up against bigger, better-resourced schools.
“Most kids leave Thabazimbi if they want to pursue sports,” said Zanie. “We could have sent Benhard to a big school in Pretoria but we decided against that. That’s what I love about his story.”
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His father believes that decision made his son’s rise to Test rugby all the more remarkable.
“The chances of someone from here playing international rugby are one in a million,” Gerhard said. “He has made his own path. We are so proud.”
Photos: Mari Engelbrecht
The post How farm life forged England’s Saffa centre appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Benhard Janse van Rensburg’s father believes growing up on a remote Limpopo farm gave his son the resilience that has carried him to the brink of an England Test debut.
The post How farm life forged England’s Saffa centre appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
