No, there was only one De Wet Fourie in the Eastern Province u/18 rugby team at this year’s Craven Week.
Yes, you will be excused if you thought there were a few De Wet Fouries in a number six-jersey in action last week at Outeniqua Park in George.
The head boy of Daniel Pienaar Technical High School in Kariega maintained such a tremendous work rate in the three matches that it looked like there were more than one of him on the field.
Fourie was one of the stars in what was a great Craven Week for the province. EP won all three matches, beating Free State 26-23, Boland 40-26 and the Sharks 33-22.
The flanker was rewarded for his consistent performances with inclusion in the South African Schools A team.
Fourie will have another chance to enhance his reputation as one of the best in the country in schoolboy rugby in a match this (Thursday) afternoon.
He will be in action for the A side against the South African School Team at Boland Landbou near Paarl (kickoff at 15:00).
“His dream was to get this kind of recognition and a chance like this,” the EP Craven Week coach, Elric van Vuuren from Despatch High, said.
Van Vuuren has known Fourie for many years and has been working with him intensively in a rugby environment over the last two years.
“He worked extremely hard. I saw him regularly in the gymnasium putting the hours in.
“De Wet is always prepared to walk the extra mile. He just never gives up as one can see in the way he plays.
“He was initially picked to fulfil the role of the six flanker who must play to the ground for us but then he was also amazing with his ball carries. He was a monster in defence,” Van Vuuren said.
The EP supporters in George and those watching on television saw Fourie getting treatment for what looked like cramping in the first match.
He was struggling from early in the second half but went on to play a blinder against the strong Free State outfit. He was named as the Player of the Match.
Van Vuuren revealed that Fourie actually picked up an injury but he refused to throw in the towel.
“He played with that injury in the last two matches. He had a problem just above his ankle and almost struggled to walk.
Fourie has been in the EP Schools rugby structures for years now, also in a leadership role. He captained the EP Academy side last year and is the Daniel Pienaar captain.
In the match against Boland last week he was the EP captain when the regular leader Imaani Pemba was not playing.
“His style of captaincy is to lead by example with his play. He is not a big talker, very humble,” Van Vuuren added.
Van Vuuren predicts a bright future for Fourie.
“He is a special player and will succeed because his head is in the right place. Mentally he is one of the strongest school players I have coached. The future is in his hands now.
“What a champion, I will go to war with him any day, anytime.”
