I have a twin brother, Jesse, and growing up, we played all sports together. Throughout our high school career, we had really influential coaches, Mr. Sutherland, Mr. Collicott, and Mr. Lamarck. They made us realize that we had talent and a gift for rugby. And they pushed us, but it wasn’t until we were around 16 years old that we realized rugby could be a full-time job. 

We were offered a contract with the Blue Bulls, a professional outfit, after high school.

In moments of crisis, whether during practice, in a match, or in life, communication under pressure is key. On the rugby pitch, you have to be vocal. We’re working with so many different walks of life, different cultures, and people from different countries. You have to create a language. On the field, I like to be loud and vocal; I speak the whole time.

 The community, the country, and family - these are important ingredients to becoming a professional rugby player in South Africa. It provides our support system and a backbone. Family is really important to me. We lost our dad when we were really young, and grew up in a fatherless home. But my brother and I are thankful for my aunt and my uncle who gave us a lot of guidance and brought us back in line when we needed it. And my mom, as a single parent, did everything else could for us. As I look back now and at my own kids, I am grateful for family, and the rugby community, who were there to drive us to matches, and who shaped and molded me into the man I am today.

We love the safety and location of the neighborhood. The schools are incredible too. A lot of our children’s friends live in the neighborhood which has been great for them as well as us. 

Favorite local restaurant? Tapatio

We are a family of 4 all born in South Africa and have been in the USA since 2022. Our daughter is 7 (Summer) and our son is 5 (Cruz) and then there is my wife, Candice, and myself. We love spending time outdoors and making memories with friends. 

I generally take a couple of weeks off once the season is done to give my body proper time to heal. Then, I get back into the gym.

We have our own nonprofit called Happy Bundles. It’s something we have put a lot of time into helping Children with Cancer and we will continue to do so! 

Looking back, I love how proud our supporters are, how many new fans we have out of the Greater Seattle area, and what a difference Rugby makes within our community. I'm really makes me proud to be a Seawolf. 

I like the fact that it’s an immersive experience. Having my kids join me on the pitch after matches has been some of my fondest memories during my time in Seattle. And obviously, the fans. I think our fans are some of the greatest supporters in the league.

Rugby is a really incredible sport. It’s fast, it’s physical and it’s fun. For 80 minutes you're trying to kill one another and then, afterward, you're having beers together. I love being challenged weekly to become better and hopefully help the next generation and future generations of American rugby players. 

There’s not just one. But I think one of my favorite experiences was my family being able to hand over a Happy Bundles package to a young girl fighting Cancer in front of a packed Starfire stadium. My wife and kids handed a Bundle to them during halftime of our match. For me, that was a really special “fan experience“ - being able to put the spotlight on this incredible girl fighting her toughest battle. 

Fans are always surprised by how physical and fast the games are!