{"id":191469,"date":"2018-11-14T05:30:00","date_gmt":"2018-11-14T03:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/191469\/two-local-players-selected-for-national-team\/"},"modified":"2018-11-13T14:33:49","modified_gmt":"2018-11-13T12:33:49","slug":"two-local-players-selected-for-national-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/sports-news\/2018\/11\/14\/two-local-players-selected-for-national-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Two local players selected for national team"},"content":{"rendered":"

For many young rugby players being selected for the national team is a dream they strive for.<\/p>\n

For Adriaan van der Westhuizen (22) and Damian Diedericks (22), former members of the Mustangs Rugby League Club, this dream became a reality when they were selected for the u-23 South African Rugby League (SARL) national team, The Rhinos.<\/p>

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The pair were part of the team that faced Australia\u2019s u-23 team on their recent tour of South Africa.<\/p>\n

Van der Westhuizen is new to the rugby league world.<\/p>

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Adriaan van der Westhuizen (22), a former player for the Mustangs Rugby League Club, was recently selected as part of the u-23 South African Rugby League (SARL) national team, The Rhinos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI have been playing union rugby for 11 years now, but only started playing rugby league three months ago,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was introduced to league rugby by some friends who played union with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Diedericks is also no stranger to rugby but has more experience with rugby league.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started playing rugby when I was seven years old.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my second year playing rugby league, I was introduced to rugby league by a friend, Gerrit Groenewalt, who also played and was my rugby league coach.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy brother-in-law Rudie Wessels also played rugby league,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

ALSO READ:\u00a0Last Rhino Cup League match for Mustangs<\/a><\/h4>\n

When asked what they like most about the sport van der Westhuizen said, \u201cWhat I like more about rugby league is that it is more physical, harder and faster than union.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Diedericks said, \u201cI just have a passion for this wonderful sport and I enjoy meeting new people and making new friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two were selected for the team from among 30 eager players, who were selected for try-outs from different clubs.<\/p>\n

Both men agree that playing against an international team was an eye opener.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo play rugby league on a national level is much faster and harder than playing against local teams,\u201d said van der Westhuizen.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlaying against the Australians was physically harder and faster than playing against local teams, but very enjoyable,\u201d said Diedericks.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is very different to play against them, their structure of playing and their technique is very different to ours in South Africa and that is what is making them stand out.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked what had stood out most for them during the tour Diedericks said, \u201cThe whole build-up to the game, and to standing up and singing the national anthem was just an amazing feeling.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am proud to add that in my first game for the Rhinos I scored the first try.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The u-23 South African Rugby League (SARL) national team, The Rhinos, stand to attention before their recent match against Australia. Photo by: Hein Roos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While van der Westhuizen feels the challenge of facing an international team with limited experience in the sport was a highlight for him.<\/p>\n

Both van der Westhuizen and Diedericks look forward to continuing their rugby league careers.<\/p>\n

ALSO READ:\u00a0Bears and Mustangs meet in Germiston derby in opening match of Rhino Cup League<\/a><\/h4>\n

\u201cNext for me is some club league, and to be selected to play for the senior Rhinos in the world cup qualifiers next year,\u201d said Diedericks.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am always up for new challenges and the World Cup qualifiers next year are going to be a huge challenge for me, as I am still young in playing rugby league.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is still a lot to learn about the game in comparison to union rugby,\u201d said van der Westhuizen.<\/p>\n

Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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