When he scored a try against Samoa on his test debut in 2002, former Springbok hooker Delarey du Preez achieved something that children all across South Africa dream of.
When he scored a try against Samoa on his test debut in 2002, former Springbok hooker Delarey du Preez achieved something that children all across South Africa dream of.
At the Rhodes University Rugby Club’s annual awards dinner on Saturday, where he was the guest speaker, du Preez opened up about his past.
“At the age of 15, I bunked school – naughty little 15-year-old – and the sheriff for the court came to our house and took away everything we owned – left us with our beds and a fridge,” he said.
“For a teenager, that can go two ways. I went straight to my dad’s cupboard, took his revolver out, put a bullet in, flicked it, and played Russian roulette with my life.”
Fortunately for du Preez, the bullet was not in the chamber and life afforded him the second chance that so many are denied. Once he had come back from the brink, nothing was going to stop him.
When he was picked for SA Schools, du Preez realised that he was destined for greatness. When he finished school, he wrote a letter to Border Rugby pledging his services should they be willing to give him a chance.
Du Preez went on to shine for the Border Bulldogs, catching the eyes of the Lions and Western Province. In the end, the Gauteng side won the race to sign him, much to the disappointment of then Province coach Gert Smal.
The hooker from Queenstown went on to star for the Lions (then the Cats in Super Rugby), as well as the Bulls and the Sharks. He also had a stint overseas with Gloucester and earned two Springbok test caps. However, he admitted this did not come without compromise.
“Throughout my rugby career, I stopped smoking and stopped drinking. I stopped all my ways. My one specific goal was to better myself as a person – and to make the Springboks, obviously – so I didn’t end up as that 15-year-old.”
