THREE Queen’s College Boys’ High School first team rugby players left for United Kingdom on Monday, November 4, for six weeks as part of an exchange rugby programme with Kirkham Grammar School.
Terrance Heidtman (second row lock), Liyema Mgwigwi (hooker) and Sihlalo Benge (fly half) are the players who will be training under the Kirkham technical team and they will also be writing their final exams in the UK.
The exchange programme started in 2014 and was borne out of a friendship between Queen’s College first team head coach, Pierre Jacobs, and Kirkham’s Aled Trenhaile.
It started as a rugby exchange but has since branched out to include cricket as well.
The Kirkham rugby boys visit Queen’s College for six weeks in July and August while Queen’s College boys visit Kirkham for six to eight weeks in November and December.
Jacobs said the programme was very significant for the school and the boys as well.
“The boys get the opportunity to experience different schooling systems, different cultures and different playing conditions. It is an experience of a life time and the boys can make new friends and incredible and lasting memories out of this programme.”
Komani-Karoo Express also got a chance to speak to the boys before they boarded their flight to the UK.
“This is a great opportunity for us because we will be playing under totally different conditions and oppositions. This will help us develop our skills in the game of rugby and who knows, maybe we can bag in a few contracts from that side so we’re very happy and excited about the trip,” Mgwigwi said.
