{"id":270073,"date":"2025-10-22T08:19:10","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T06:19:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/districtmailhelderberg\/?p=270073"},"modified":"2025-10-22T08:19:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T06:19:14","slug":"strand-rugby-star-needs-community-help-to-tackle-spanish-dream-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/districtmailhelderberg\/strand-rugby-star-needs-community-help-to-tackle-spanish-dream-tour\/","title":{"rendered":"Strand rugby star needs community help to tackle Spanish dream tour"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Seventeen-year-old Juan Jansen van Vuuren, a Strand local and talented rugby player attending Ho\u00ebrskool Drostdy in Worcester, has earned a spot in the prestigious Southern Legions rugby team for an exciting tour to Spain.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"741\" height=\"1024\" data-attachment-id=\"270074\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/districtmailhelderberg\/strand-rugby-star-needs-community-help-to-tackle-spanish-dream-tour\/juan_22413\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/districtmailhelderberg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/juan_22413.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1200,1658\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Juan Jansen van Vuuren in action on the rugby field.\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Juan Jansen van Vuuren in action on the rugby field.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Juan Jansen van Vuuren in action on the rugby field.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/districtmailhelderberg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/juan_22413-741x1024.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/districtmailhelderberg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/juan_22413-741x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Juan Jansen van Vuuren in action on the rugby field.\" class=\"wp-image-270074\" srcset=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/districtmailhelderberg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/juan_22413-741x1024.jpg 741w, https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/districtmailhelderberg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/juan_22413-217x300.jpg 217w, https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/districtmailhelderberg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/juan_22413-768x1061.jpg 768w, https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/districtmailhelderberg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/juan_22413.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 741px) 100vw, 741px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Juan Jansen van Vuuren in action on the rugby field.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>But this dream hangs in the balance as his single mother, Erika, races against time to raise the necessary funds by the end of November.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The total cost for the tour is about R50 000, and covers all aspects of the journey: travel to and from Johannesburg; return tickets to Spain; accommodation; food; travel during the tour; and pocket money.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Erika is determined to make this far more than just an opportunity for her son, believing his talent deserves a stage beyond school level.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I would love to make this a reality for my son, who I feel has the talent to go further, above and beyond just a dream or a school level of playing,&#8221; she relates.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite setting up a Back-a-Buddy crowdfunding page and actively advertising the campaign on Facebook, Erika says the fundraising effort had hit a &#8220;dead end everywhere&#8221;.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She has issued an appeal to the community, local businesses, and sports enthusiasts for assistance to ensure Juan can represent the Southern Legions and take his rugby career to the next level.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\uf06e To support Juan and  trip to Spain, interested donors can call Erika on 076 574 3661.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Seventeen-year-old Juan Jansen van Vuuren, a Strand local and talented rugby player attending Ho\u00ebrskool Drostdy in Worcester, has earned a spot in the prestigious Southern Legions rugby team for an exciting tour to 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