This story has been a bit of an open secret for months now, but with a major PE-based newspaper running with a confirmation this morning, it’s as good a time as any to let the cat firmly out of the bag. SA Schools flyhalf and schoolboy rugby prodigy Curwin Bosch has opted to join the Sharks next year, rejecting offers from virtually every other major union in the process.
According to the front page of The Herald, 18-year-old Bosch will join the Sharks on November 30 for pre-season training. Long a big name on the schoolboy scene, the Grey High flyhalf has really caught the eye of the last couple of years, being marked as a stand-out player at Craven Week level in both 2014 and 2015. In fact, in an interview with City Press after this year’s competition, former Bok centre Gocbani Bobo paid perhaps the biggest compliment a young flyhalf could receive, when he compared Bosch to Dan Carter at a similar age. “He is just so polished and so composed under pressure,” Bobo told the paper.
Having been chased (and chased hard) by the Cheetahs, Bulls, Lions, Western Province and the local EP Kings, Bosch finally made his decision to join the Sharks, telling the Herald “it was a difficult decision for me, but I just felt the Sharks will give me better opportunities.” Bosch has signed a 2-year deal, but has dismissed speculation that his salary will be a whopping R350k per year, as was earlier reported. “I was surprised when I saw that figure in the newspaper and I don’t think it’s fitting to talk about those things in the media,” he says.
The timing of his arrival in Durban is interesting. Most under 19 players reporting for duty in their first year are told to join the Academy in late January and will then start training with the junior squad ahead of the under 19 tournament later in the year. Bosch’s arrival date of 30 November does suggest the he might skip under 19 rugby altogether, which would not be altogether unwarranted for a player of his calibre. It would certainly not be his first taste of training with the big boys in Durban anyway – he confirms what was reported earlier in the year. “I was flown down to Durban and trained with the Sharks and knew that was the place for me. I did not have to fit in.”
Welcome to the Sharks, Curwin! We look forward to many happy years together.
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Great news! Hope he has a huge future with the sharks!
Welcome Curwin hope you have a very long fruitful career at the Sharks
Nice
Seems a level headed kid, nice to see at his age.
Must say I have never seen him play so cannot wait, heard lots about him though.
2 years is a bit short but probably best to start small.
Welcome Curwin…and all the best!
Morne, you had some reservations about him if I recall, what do you think the Sharks need to focus on regarding his development?
Good player but i hope he is allowed to develop physically before being thrown in the deep end. Hoping he will turn out for the UKZN side in varsity cup. Does Inny Radebe still qualify for that side? If so we could see Bosch at 15.
Haven’t seen him play,but I read so much about him during craven week, knew he was something special. This is really great for us. The last 2 weeks have been much more positive with news and signings. I really am more positive about next year and the overall future of the sharks…just in case meyer coaches the boks for next 10 years still,does anyone know his height,weight and how quick is he is?
Great signing. Would be kind of bummed if he leap frogs Inny though.
@JarsonX (Comment 6) : that’s standard for a junior contract.
@HeinF (Comment 10) : From what ive watched he is not the biggest guy…is quick and takes the ball to the line with a good pass and good feet. Is a pretty decent kicker as well.
@vanmartin (Comment 8) : that’s easy. Needs to work on defence, primarily.
@Seth101 (Comment 11) : If he is better I don’t care, may the best play hit the road running, If one looks at the accolades of him he seems to be the real deal, proof will be in the playing though.
As I have not seen him play, I went to youtube for some insight, the young man obviously has enormous talent with serious pace. To play 1st team rugby for three years and be Craven week player of the tournament tells you that he has all the goods to go far.
However, the most impressive thing about him is his level head.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=289081907783055&story_fbid=830155257009048
The link has some additional info on our future super star.
Superb! Welcome to Durbs young man! Top player and with proper coaching and necessary support, he will be in Green and Gold in a couple of years.
Very very special talent you Sharks have got there, proper guidance and coaching. He’s got the potential to be as good as anything we’ve ever seen. Massive potential
Class act this kid….well done sharks
I see growing up his desire was to play for WP.
@sharks_lover (Comment 20) : We all make mistakes. I liked Rick Astley when I was in primary school
Very interesting indeed!!!!!!
Let’s see how this signing unfold
@robdylan (Comment 21) :
😆
@Charlie (Comment 23) : 😯 Wies jy?
@robdylan (Comment 21) : @sharks_lover (Comment 24) : if you are a young FH why would you go to WP at the moment? Rob Dup kept Pollard out of 10 at Junior bokke, JL Du Plessis, Thompson, Stapelberg and Eksteen all Junior Bokke…that is one massive queue
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 25) : Whoever you want me to be 😛
@Charlie (Comment 27) : 😯
@sharks_lover (Comment 28) : 😆 😆 😆
@Charlie (Comment 29) :
Welcome Curwin, hope its a mutually beneficial stay.
Watched this guy play live. He is seriously talented. Will be Lambie’s successor sooner than later. Great signing.
@Charlie (Comment 27) : Where have you been, hope you are well. Hoe gaan dit met Adi?
@SheldonK (Comment 13) : Good news! Hopefully some day soon our coaches will stop being obsessed with size
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 33) : Stayed low profile for quite some time, but still supporting the Sharks though
All good no complains 😀 Adi quite involved in sports. He works as Curriculum Advisor for the Provincial Government. Also Assistant Coach to Ismaeel Dollie at Union Milnerton RFC, club playing in Super League B competition.
GREAT STUFF – WELCOME CURWIN
@robdylan (Comment 21) : Lies!
I have it on good authority that this is still your all time no 1 favorite!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb_hqexKkw8
@Bump (Comment 37) : 😆 😆 Thanks! Now it’s stuck in my head.. 😕
@Charlie (Comment 35) : 😎 sounds like all are spekvet en gesond. Hope you stick around here a bit more.
@HeinF (Comment 34) : What i liked when watching him is that he likes to keep the ball alive and also looks to put his runners into gaps etc. Defenses have to watch him as he has good footwork. Is most effective with a scrummy that just clears the ruck though..something to bear inmind
@Charlie (Comment 27) : Good comeback!
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 39) : For sure 😉 @pastorshark (Comment 41) :
😆 
http://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/botha-set-to-be-jumping-for-his-money-in-durban-1.1938021#.VjNTRDahdMs
@sharks_lover (Comment 43) : Lekker! And as per usual, will the Sharks be the last to confirm this 🙄
@vanmartin (Comment 8) :
From a skills point of view, this kid is the most complete flyhalf I have seen in years.
He needs to gain a bit of muscle which will give him more confidence in contact, especially defensively, which is my only concern with him.
That is very coachable and if done right, will see significant improvement within 12 to 18 months.
He has a deadly accurate pass, the likes of which I have only seen in Fourie du Preez (ability to pass players into space). He has excellent anticipation (reads the game well, exceptional at buying himself time), and he kicks it over from everywhere.
He will be a Springbok.
@Morné (Comment 46) : your thoughts on robert du preez,jr at 12?
@SheldonK (Comment 40) : we really need a scrummy like that,quick to the rucks,sniping and with a very good pass
@50shadesofshark (Comment 47) :
Robert? I think he will be able to interchange with ease – but I would like to see him develop his game at 10.
@HeinF (Comment 48) : Someone like Faf?
@Morné (Comment 49) : your thoughts on wilco louw?wp/stormers will most probably get koch back for superrugby 2016.with malherbe there,what to do with louw?do you think he is ready for superrugby?same question re: mzamo majola?
@robdylan (Comment 14) : @Morné (Comment 45) : Thanks!
@Bump (Comment 37) : This thread was all good news and then I get rickrolled on a Friday afternoon. Not cool man 😉
Ons het backup nr10’s baie nodig – so baie welkom – hoop daar is ‘n mooi toekoms vir jou by ons die GROOT SHARKS.
http://sharksrugby.co.za/index.php/component/articles/?view=article&id=2843012
Chiliboy confirmed signed by the Sharks. I don’t know how to feel. 😥
@sharks_lover (Comment 20) : Yes but then he grew up…
@Seth101 (Comment 54) : My personal opinion- i can never support him in a Sharks jersey. Getting rewarded for cheating the sport. All the Sharks anti doping campaigns down the drain.
@SheldonK (Comment 56) : “All the Sharks anti doping campaigns down the drain” exactly my thinking.
happy happy
Not a fan of the hairstyle but it could be the source of all his power
@sharks_lover (Comment 43) : Good news, but does this mean that we have given up on signing Lood?
@Another Nick (Comment 44) : To be fair, they can’t confirm it until a release has been negotiated and a contract signed with the Sharks…
@jonnow (Comment 60) : For all we know he’s just trying to decide on a surfboard 😉
Well, with an MMA nut screaming at him as he runs his defense drills, he’ll either crack or learn to harden the heck up!
@Bump (Comment 37) : YOU CANNOT RICKROLL ME ON MY OWN SITE!!!!
@jonnow (Comment 60) : Lood is tied up till at least the end of 2016.
@KingCheetah (Comment 65) : Exactly…
@robdylan (Comment 64) : I’m thinking it’s time to go dust off the ban-hammer boss 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 64) : Rick Astley serious?….now it makes sense….
@vanmartin (Comment 67) : 😀
Inny 10. Curwin 15!!!
@money (Comment 70) : 10.inny 12.rdp,jr 15.bosch?
Both inny radebe and curwin bosch are 2 talented players.would like to see rdp,jr back at the sharks also.
Finally some really good signings.
This kid is especially a coup. An absolutely complete skill set – AND a sub-11 100m.
@Another Nick (Comment 50) : that would be awesone. Too bad the lions won’t let him go!
Great signing if everything on here is true about him. Seems like depth in the No. 10 jumper is sorted for the next few years.
@Farlington (Comment 74) : Ja. Watch him play and I promise you you’ll believe the hype.
@money (Comment 70) : I was really hoping that your MHS 10 was going to sign with the Sharks. Big fan.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 76) : Bader Pretorius?
@robdylan (Comment 77) : That’s the one…
@pastorshark (Comment 78) : Yes. Big pity that, but can’t blame any flyhalf for not wanting to be in Bosch’s shadow.
@robdylan (Comment 79) : Yup…
@robdylan (Comment 79) : Thought he could make a very useful 12 though- if anyone is an Aaron Mauger mini me its that guy…
@robdylan (Comment 77) : @pastorshark (Comment 80) : Yes.
There were some really good flyhalves on display this year. Van der Bank from Boland also impressed big time.
At Craven Week this year – Bosch scored 35 points, no tries but 4 drop goals. Van der Bank scored 32 points with 2 tries and Bader Pretorius scored 30 but with 3 tries. Some useless information.