Dilemma for the young man: cricket or rugby?

[Boundary]

http://newsday.co.zw/article/2012-08-16 ... et-dilemma

Emerging multi-talented young sportsperson Luke Masasire could be left in dilemma as to which career path to pursue in sport after he was named in the Zimbabwe Under-19 rugby team’s provisional squad for the CAR Under-19 Championships yesterday.
The CAR Under-19 Championships, which will be used as the qualifiers for the 2013 Junior World Rugby Trophy in Chile, will take place from August 26 to September 1 at Prince Edward School.

Masasire’s inclusion in the squad comes as a surprise as he is currently at the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Australia with the national cricket team.

The Young Sables are also hoping to get the best from Masasire after naming him in the 32-man provisional squad which assembled for a training camp yesterday. However, this is not the first time that the versatile Masasire (18) has been called up for national duty in rugby.

The former national Under-18 rugby flyhalf and ex-Prince Edward School first team football player featured at last year’s Craven Week U18 tournament in South Africa.

His performances at the Craven Week convinced Dale College of South Africa to recruit the talented flyhalf to their institution on a rugby bursary.

Another interesting inclusion in the provisional squad is that of record-breaking national representative swimmer Matthew Lawson, the older brother to another promising swimmer James.

Five players are expected to make their second appearance in the continental tournament which Zimbabwe has won for the past three years.
These are forwards Lawson, Joshua Smallbones, Daniel Rorke, Tapiwa Tsomondo and backliner Robert Sargent.

Zimbabwe Under-19 rugby team manager Colleen De Jonge said the 32 players were selected after open trials conducted recently as a final squad of 24 players would be named after the camp.
“The open trials held recently were very well attended with over 60 players from all over the country.

“From this a provisional squad of 32 players was identified and they will attend training camp today (yesterday). The Zimbabwe Under-19 final squad of 24 players for CAR Under-19 tournament will be selected from this training squad,” said De Jonge.

Hmm, tough choice. Rugby in Zim doesn't pay as much but there's a clear shorter path, and less competitors, to the senior team. But in order to survive long term, he'd need to break into one of the SA teams which is tough. Cricket offers more opportunities, even club cricket in the UK would give him some income and franchise cricket in Zim gives him a somewhat viable career option. But it's going to be tougher breaking into the national team, with its international exposure and contracts with county/IPLs of this world. Still, cricket I say!

[bayhaus]

Rugby he would need to be really really good. If his aim is cracking the Zim team, he is aiming low and probably wont get far. If he choses rugby his aim should be to be the flyhalf of the top SA teams, Bulls, Stormers, Sharks, etc. If he cracks that he automatically walks into the zim team. But to crack that he has to be exceptionally good, and how big is he? Cos size may rule him out like what happened to chavanga. Then overcome the SA dynamics for eg. I doubt Bulls will have a Black flyhalf from Zim on top of that...

[eugene]

Perhaps the newly-admitted to Super Rugby Southern Kings would be the team to aim to play for. They have mostly crap players so it will be an easier team to break in to.

[bayhaus]

Perhaps the newly-admitted to Super Rugby Southern Kings would be the team to aim to play for. They have mostly crap players so it will be an easier team to break in to.

Doubt it, again he is better off playing cricket cos SK might only be in for one season, then he would still need to get a better team. Its in the eastern cape (SA poorest province) doubt he would want to move there. He would really need to be focussed.

[Boundary]

Although it's never explicitly stated, Super Rugby teams won't take him in unless he commits to being a Springbok. They won't develop a player for Zim.

[bayhaus]

Although it's never explicitly stated, Super Rugby teams won't take him in unless he commits to being a Springbok. They won't develop a player for Zim.

I guess you mean in the Zim context cos Henandez from Argentina played for the sharks I think it was? Not sure. I guess Kennedy Tsimba was also trying for the springboks. This just off the top of my head not an avid follower of Super Rugby though I am a sStormers fan