Louis Schreuder highlights FNB Varsity Cup’s role in producing Springboks

Louis Schreuder is part of an elite group of rugby players in South Africa. In total, there are 61 South African rugby players who have made the step up from playing FNB Varsity Cup or FNB Varsity Shield rugby to going all the way to represent the Springboks on the global stage and he is one of them.

Schreuder made the transition, but his path to the top was a little bit different to most players who make the leap to the professional game from the rung below at Varsity level.

Most players battle it out for a few years, balancing their studies in the hopes of getting noticed by a provincial side.

But Schreuder had his path mapped out for him, spotted as a schoolboy star playing for Paarl Gimnasium, he represented Western Province at age-group level and at various SA Junior sides.

His time playing varsity rugby was brief then, only running out twice for Maties’ junior side in 2010 before being called up to the SA under-20 side for the Junior World Cup - where he served as vice-captain.

Maties dominated the inaugural seasons of the competition, winning the first three editions of the tournament and starring in the final of five of the first six seasons.

Schreuder was registered as a Bachelor of commerce student for a brief period at Stellenbosch University, but it was always second fiddle with the aspirations of playing professional rugby remaining his long-term ambition.

But while Schreuder’s talent was apparent from a young age, not everyone shines at schoolboy rugby level. Others need a more time to become the best version they can be. This is the platform the Varsity Cup provides.

“Not all of us are early bloomers,” Schreuder said to FNB Varsity Cup.

“Some guys are a bit late developers, and I think Varsity Cup gives them that a bit of time to really mature and reach their full potential and then get spotted. The whole Varsity Cup product is something you want to be involved with and want to play in.”

Schreuder made his debut for Western Province in the Currie Cup in 2010, months before he was running out for Maties.

He went on to represent the Stormers the next month and had a few Currie Cup titles in his bag within the first four years of his time at the union as a senior professional.

Alongside him were several stars that made the step-up from Varsity Cup rugby to star alongside him in the blue and white hoops of Western Province.

Although, Schreuder’s affiliation largely lies with Maties, he credited the other side Western Cape’s ability to develop young talent with a large crop of players developing from FNB UCT Ikey Tigers’ squad.

“You can see the players, UCT in particular, they produced the last couple, not the last couple of years, but at least when I was at the Stormers,” Schreuder said.

“The likes of Doogz (Damian de Allende) and Demetri (Catrakilis), Oli Kebble and even Eben (Etzebeth). All of them played Varsity Cup got that exposure.

“If you’re really at a high level, there’s quite a difference between the level we’re at now, professional – or say, URC - and Varsity Cup.

“There is a big, big level jump. But I mean, the guys that do well at Varsity Cup, you can see them quite seamlessly fit in at the higher level.

“You can definitely see the guys that can make it. Varsity Cup giving those boys exposure is massive. It’s quite nice to see them develop from Varsity Cup to pro players and maybe even Springboks.”

Schreuder developed to become a Springbok, winning his sole cap for the national side in 2017 under Allister Coetzee, coming off the bench against Wales.

Schreuder’s journey has seen him make a full-circle moment back to the winelands where his currently playing for Boland, back to area where his rugby journey started.