Many believe Cameron Hanekom is a Bok in the making. Photo by SteveHaagSports/INPHO/Shutterstock
Hands off, Wales: Bulls determined to hang onto young star
Talented youngster Cameron Hanekom might be eligible to play for Wales, but he remains locked down by the Bulls.
Many believe Cameron Hanekom is a Bok in the making. Photo by SteveHaagSports/INPHO/Shutterstock
The Bulls have made a fantastic start to this season, and look set to be the leading South African side in 2023-24, while there are already a number of players being mentioned in a Bok context. One of them is former Boishaai forward Cameron Hanekom, who really caught the eye in the URC towards the end of October when he scored two tries in the Bulls’ demolition of Scarlets.
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However, it has recently come to light that Hanekom qualifies to play for Wales through his grandmother, who was born there, and apparently Welsh coach Warren Gatland even kept an eye on the powerful forward during a recent URC meeting between Cardiff Blues and the Bulls.
Mindful of this talk, Bulls coach Jake White has quickly moved to shut down any speculation that Hanekom could be poached.
“He’s signed till 2027,” the Bulls’ director of rugby said. “There’s no way I’d release him from his contract. I’m planning like I’ll have him around for the next four seasons minimum, which coincides with the remainder of my tenure.
“It’s our job to ensure he’s looked after and enjoys his rugby here and doesn’t have aspirations to play for anyone else. It’s one of those things. I talk confidently that I don’t see him wanting to go and we certainly don’t want him to go. One season doesn’t make him, though, and I think he appreciates that.”
Welsh eligibility a factor to be aware of for Bulls star
Ahead of a recent fixture, White revealed he was caught by surprise when hearing of Hanekom’s eligibility for Wales.
“I didn’t know until one of the BBC commentators told me at training!” he explained. “He said ‘Did you know this kid is Welsh qualified?’ and the next day I read in the paper he’s got a grandmother who qualifies him for the Welsh team.
“I think that’s a sign of the times. I don’t think it’s going to be the last time we get a player in South Africa that’s qualified for another country. Obviously, he’s a great talent. He was voted the best player in a U20s tournament a couple of years back. He’s still only 21.”
White added: “He’s been a good find for the public, but we knew he was in our system and that it was always inevitable he would come through into our mix.”
A future Bok
Hanekom, who is just 21 years old, has continued to earn plenty of praise for his impressive skills as an eighthman with both power and mobility.
Already, the calls are increasing for him to become a Bok in 2024.
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