Nick Groom – Rondebosch Captain

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:01

Nic Broom: Rondebosch captain

Rugby365.com caught up with Rondebosch Boys’ High School scrumhalf and captain Nic Groom to chat about his team’s narrow loss to Bishops and the upcoming Academy Week in George.

Born in the Eastern Cape, Nick spent his formative years at Dale College. He arrived in Cape Town as an eleven year-old when his father accepted a post as a schoolmaster at Rondebosch Boys’ Preparatory School. Nick enrolled at Rondebosch and has been at the school ever since. Nick’s mom is also a teacher and he obtained at least some of his sporting prowess from his father, who played a few games of rugby for Border. 

Nick has excelled at Rondebosch in all aspects of school life and is deputy head boy. His achievements in sport are many and he has played in and captained the A-team, be it in waterpolo or rugby, for most of his school career. He has played two years first team rugby and four years first team waterpolo. Before this year he had not represented Western Province at rugby at age group level but he has provincial or nationals colours for waterpolo (SA Under-19), lifesaving and touch rugby. 

Having played scrumhalf virtually his whole life Nick has developed all the fundamental skills associated with the position. His loves the physical stuff and defence is one of his strengths. Nick also loves to run with the ball and has a strong break. A natural leader he reads the game well and communicates well with his players. Like any good player Nick is never satisfied and he continues to work hard on his passing and kicking. Nick has always enjoyed watching Canterbury and All Black icon Justin Marshall and he tries hard to emulate his heroes’ exploits every time he takes the field.

Rondebosch are coming off two poor seasons and were desperate to put things right this year. With a good Under-16 division coming through Rondebosch knew they had a good chance to turn things around and they toured Argentina in the pre-season. The tour was a great confidence booster and they returned unbeaten.

Things looked good when they beat two other local rivals Wynberg Boys’ High and the South African College High School (SACS). True success for them though in the tough Western Province league means beating arch rivals Diocesan College (Bishops) and knocking over one of the big three, Paarl Gim, Boishaai or Paul Roos.

Having played all four of them already Nick feels really Rondebosch have been really unlucky. They played well against Gim and Boishaai but were soundly beaten but two weeks ago they were within one penalty kick of beating Paul Roos in Stellenbosch, something you only dream of. Then last Saturday against Bishops in the televised FNB Classic Clash, the game was locked at 8-all for along period. Rondebosch had a try disallowed then soon after their lock was somewhat harshly yellow-carded. These proved to be major turning points in the game. Although Nick is big enough give Bishops credit where credit is due, he remains positive and upbeat.

Rondebosch have six games left after the holidays and Nick is hoping that they can go unbeaten. Most of all he is extremely happy that Rondebosch play Bishops twice a season and that he has a chance to exact revenge in two months time.

The best way to get a disappointing loss out of your system is to get back on the field. Fortunately over the June/July holidays Nick heads off with Western Province to the Academy Week in George, where their first match is on Monday 30 June against the Falcons. Western Province have great depth in their schoolboy rugby and Nick is confident that the team, of which he is vice-captain, will acquit themselves well.

Nick is still struggling to make a decision about what to do next year. He has applied to Stellenbosch University to study sports science but is still dabbling with the idea of possibly going to Australia to play waterpolo and rugby. The critical question for him really is whether he studies or takes a few years to concentrate on his rugby. With the talent scouts every present at schoolboy tournaments nowadays that decision might well be made for him over the next few days.