Future star: Leroy Bitterhout
29 Sep 2010
Leroy Bitterhout knows his way to the tryline.
The 16-year-old wing, who is only in Grade 10, made his Craven Week debut for Boland this year and scored five tries in their three victories over KwaZulu-Natal, the Griffons and Limpopo.
Bitterhout was selected for the SA U18 High Performance squad and SA Schools XV and scored three tries in the latter’s 92-21 win over Namibia in August. He also featured for the FNB Invitational XV at the St John’s Easter Festival this year, where he scored two tries and kicked three conversions in their win over the hosts.
SA Schools co-coach and Boland Craven Week coach Alridge Mercuur says pace and agility make Bitterhout a dangerous wing.
‘He has excellent speed which makes him a big threat out wide, especially in broken play,’ says Mecuur. ‘That’s something no coach can teach a player. He has great skills with ball in hand and a talented boot. He can kick for touch and at goal if needed.’
Bitterhout was born in Paarl, where he attended Ebenezer Primary, before joining Klein Nederburg Secondary where he has played for the 1st XV for the past two years.
While Bitterhout has excelled this season, there are doubts about his transition to senior level because of his small stature (68kg, 1.70m).
‘I realise that I’m smaller than the other players but I have the talent and the pace to do well,’ says Bitterhout. ‘I’m working hard to build myself up as I go to the gym about three times a week.’
Mecuur insists Bitterhout’s size shouldn’t be seen as a disadvantage.
‘Leroy is like Gio Aplon,’ says Mecuur. ‘His pace and agility make up for his lack of size and he can cope against the bigger boys. He is well built and conditioned for a player of his stature. He shouldn’t spend too much time in the gym because he will lose his pace if he grows too big.
‘He can make the step up to senior rugby one day but he shouldn’t be rushed. He should be nurtured in the sevens format while he’s still young, to enhance his ball skills and build more speed.’
Bitterhout’s impressive season has earned him a two-year junior contract with the Bulls. He will move to Pretoria in 2011 and finish his schooling at Affies.
‘I’m excited about next year. I plan to do my best and take all the opportunities that come my way,’ he says. ‘I decided to leave Boland because the Bulls are a more established union. I want to pursue a rugby career after school and the Bulls can help me achieve that.’
By Gareth Duncan
– This article first appeared in the October issue of SA Rugby magazine
7 Comments
29 Sep 2010, 13:14 pm
This guy is awesome. Tons of pace.
Interesting to see the Bulls and Affies being mentioned in the same sentence. Wonder whether Bulls are contributing to his school fees? My bet would be yes
29 Sep 2010, 13:18 pm
1.70 tall and 68kg heavy and 16 … come now how can you say he is a future star?
he will have to pit on 20kgs and 10cm if he is even going to make it at pro level … boy eat your pap en vleis and veggies, throw away the coke and drink milk.
29 Sep 2010, 13:42 pm
Sounds promising. Good choice going to the Bulls, he will get the right nurturing over there. If he makes it to the Boks he will be the 2nd Bok from Klein Nederburg.
29 Sep 2010, 16:05 pm
Question is, when will SARU and their political masters start to whine about there being too many coloured players in the Currie Cup..
29 Sep 2010, 18:32 pm
He is only 16, so he can still grow.
But SA Rugby needs small players too.
29 Sep 2010, 19:03 pm
pls tell us abt an up and coming bleck who is not a wing
so sterotypical
30 Sep 2010, 10:20 am
he’ll be a token player on the bench like chilliboy. Then he’ll be known as Leroy Splinterboud
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