CHAMBERLAIN’S CHARM

Boeta Chamberlain is one of those naturally gifted players whose instinctive charm with the ball in hand can set a game of rugby alight. His superlative try in Toulouse over the weekend was a graphic illustration of that, and the Cell C Sharks fullback is certain to provide more thrills on the URC stage at home…

Henry ‘Boeta’ Chamberlain - the nickname originated when his elder sister, Beanca, started calling him ‘Boeta’ as a babyannounced his arrival on the Currie Cup stage four years ago in a victory over the Golden Lions in Johannesburg.

Playing flyhalf that day, Chamberlain called the shots like a seasoned professional and produced an all-round authoritative performance that had BMT written all over it. It is probably thanks to his father, Bennie, who, when Chamberlain was only six years old, gave him a piece of invaluable advice.

“I always watched rugby on TV with Dad,” recalls Chamberlain, who was born in Cape Town 24 years ago.

“So, when I told him I also wanted to play, he took me to practice at Brackenfell Primary. I was so awe-struck, though, that I simply dawdled along behind all the other boys all afternoon.

“Afterwards, on the way home, he hauled me over the coals, telling me to get my hands on the ball and become involved, otherwise I’d just be wasting his time.

“At the next training session, I scored five tries.

“I’m forever grateful to my father, as well as the rest of my family, for their continuous support and sacrifices over the years.”

Chamberlain’s journey started there and then, and, having excelled at rugby, cricket and athletics at primary school, he was offered a bursary to attend the prestigious Paarl Boys High School.

That, eventually, would also lead to his liaison with the Cell C Sharks.

“At the St Johns Easter Rugby Festival in 2017, I tore my knee ligaments in a match against Affies, but as I sat next to the touchline, a recruitment officer from The Sharks came over and said that he had seen enough of me and that they wanted to offer me a junior contract for the following year.”

Chamberlain might have missed out on playing at the Craven Week, due to his injury, yet, instead, he became a Cell C Shark.

“I’ve been with The Sharks for six years now, and it truly is a dream come true,” he says.

One of his highlights in black and white so far, was when, as cool as a cucumber, he banged over a hat-trick of dropped goals to not only achieve a vital 27-13 away win over the Ospreys but also walk off with the Manof-the-Match spoils in 2021.

Apart from those prodigious field goals, Chamberlain also impressed with his allround game-management and confidence under the high ball.

A moment that he still treasures, more than any game on the big stage of world rugby, however, was the Western Province U13 trials many years ago.

“I was only the fourth choice flyhalf when the final round of trials came along,” he recalls.

“Dad had taught me that a defensive flyhalf would always progress more than just an attacking flyhalf, because one can learn to attack, but defence comes down to guts.

“I managed to pull off three or four trysaving tackles during that trials match, and advanced from fourth to first choice flyhalf.”

Another personal highlight for Chamberlain was the Cell C Sharks’ 40-27 win against the Blue Bulls in the national U19 final of 2018, in which he scored a try and a dropped goal. Lately, he has been operating at fullback for the Cell C Sharks, in both the Heineken Champions Cup and Vodacom United Rugby Championships, and is thoroughly enjoying himself.

“The number on the back of my jersey doesn’t matter,” he says.

“Just to be able to pull on the Cell C Sharks jersey, and to be able to live my dream, is enough for me.”

Despite his scintillating try against Toulouse in Saturday’s Champions Cup quarter-final, which Bosch goaled to reduce the deficit to only 17-20, with barely 20 minutes left on the clock, the Cell C Sharks suffered a 20-54 defeat, which was no reward for the magnificent manner in which they took the game to Toulouse during the opening 60 minutes.

“We always knew that whenever the Toulouse crowd became quiet, we would be gaining the upper hand, and that was exactly what happened after Grant Williams had crossed for what would’ve been his second try.

“The try was disallowed, though, because of an alleged forward pass. That broke our hearts, the crowd became alive again and Toulouse simply seemed to be re-energised.

“Our focus has now shifted back to the URC, and, although we might not be where we want to be on the log, we know what is required for us to be successful, and we’re very keen for the next two games at home…”

PROP OX NCHE

BORN: 23/07/1995

HEIGHT: 1.73 m

WEIGHT: 114KG

BONGI MBONAMBI

HOOKER

BORN: 07/01/1991

HEIGHT: 1.75 m

WEIGHT: 108KG

THOMAS DU TOIT

PROP

BORN: 05/05/1995

HEIGHT: 1.89 m

WEIGHT: 134KG

HYRON ANDREWS

GERBRANDT GROBLER

LOCK LOCK

BORN: 6/07/1995

HEIGHT: 2.03 m WEIGHT: 108KG

BORN: 06/02/1992

HEIGHT: 2.01 m

WEIGHT: 119KG

SIYA KOLISI

FLANK

BORN: 16/06/1991

HEIGHT: 1.88 m

WEIGHT: 103KG

VINCENT TSHITUKA

FLANK

BORN: 10/09.1998

HEIGHT: 1.95 m

WEIGHT: 107KG

SIKHUMBUZO NOTSHE

EIGHTH MAN

BORN: 28/05/1993

HEIGHT: 1.86 m

GRANT WILLIAMS

SCRUM-HALF

BORN: 22/07/1996

WEIGHT: 92KG

WEIGHT: 105KG

HEIGHT: 1.74m

CURWIN BOSCH BEN TAPUAI

FLYHALF

BORN: 25/06/1997

HEIGHT: 1.81 m

WEIGHT: 85KG

MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI

WING

BORN:26/07/1990

HEIGHT: 1.84 m

WEIGHT: 91KG

CENTRE

BORN:19/01/1989

HEIGHT: 1.80 m

WEIGHT: 95KG