25-year-old back rower Braam Steyn is one of a number of uncapped players included by Italian coach Jacques Brunel in his Six Nations training squad. Steyn, who has been plying his trade in Italy since a move to Mogliano late in 2012, spent two years in Durban at the Sharks Academy.
Steyn, a product of Paul Roos in the Cape, joined the Sharks after school and played for Ryan Strudwick’s under 19 side in 2011. An impressive season paved the way towards two Vodacom Cup caps the following year and eventual selection to Dawie Theron’s South African under 20 side, which captured the IRB Junior World Championship trophy in Cape Town that year. Despite his talents, Steyn never quite managed to nail down a regular starting berth at under 21 level for the Sharks, opting to take up the Italian option despite a further year of age-group eligibility.
He has played for Calvisano and Zebre, before moving to more fashionable Treviso this year, where Brunel has clearly spotted his abilities.
Players who accept a Junior Bok blazer now will not be eligible to play for a test side other than South Africa, but this rule was not in place at the time that Steyn played under 20 rugby, hence his availability for the Italian team. We’d like to congratulate Braam on the squad call-up and wish him luck for a hopefully successful test career to come.
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Congrats to the guy.But is there any realistic chance that Italy will finish anywhere higher than the bottom 2 at best?
@SheldonK (Comment 1) : does it matter?
What position does he play?
Congrats
@Hulk (Comment 3) : loose forward
@robdylan (Comment 2) : For him guess not. For teams like Romania and Georgia i feel there should be a promotion/relegation situation. Would love to see that Georgian/Romanian scrum get hold of England at Twickers…that would be fun haha
Congrats and good luck lad!!!!
Player of great talent, told his head wasn’t quite right at the Sharks Academy. Good for him though, I’m sure he’ll do well
Good luck, Braam…
@Ludz (Comment 8) : I find it very interesting how a change in environment does wonders for a talented player’s mindset.