HOCKEY
PROFILE
READY TO KNUCKLE DOWN! BY LYNDON JULIUS
R
YAN JULIUS was born
a few weeks after the famous Springbok 1995 Rugby World Cup victory. While many of his peers wanted to don the Green and Gold of the Springboks while emulating Francois Pienaar’s men in rugby, Julius tried baseball, tennis, cricket and football before settling on hockey.
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BLUE AND GOLD ISSUE 8 2022
Julius picked up a hockey stick for the first time at the age of 13 while attending St John’s Christian Brothers College (CBC) school in Parklands, Cape Town. He credits Reverend Garry Lawrence with introducing him to hockey at CBC and still feels a strong connection to his mentor. “I haven’t been in contact much with Rev. Lawrence of late,” Julius says. “I do sometimes send him articles and
he will in turn also send me stuff that he comes across. My relationship with him has always been one that leaves me inspired while also motivating me to do better. He always found a way to deal with my energy in the classroom and just directed it straight into sports, which helped me a lot.” He did so well at CBC that Bishops Diocesan College, one of Cape Town’s most prestigious schools, recruited him.