Saturday’s 48-12 win over Muir's 1st XV marked the end of the St. Andrew’s College rugby year, and with it the final match for many of the matrics who gave their hearts and souls to the school.
Saturday’s 48-12 win over Muir's 1st XV marked the end of the St. Andrew’s College rugby year, and with it the final match for many of the matrics who gave their hearts and souls to the school.
One such player is regular first team captain, and current South African Schools prop, Sazi Sandi. Grocott’s Mail spoke to an understandably emotional Sandi after the game.
“At the moment I can’t really wrap my head around saying it’s my last game, it’s still kind of tough to have to have reality and say say it was the last one,” Sandi said after the match.
“But it has been special, I’m just happy the boys came out with the win and to end off on a high.”
Talking about the game, which he missed due to injury, and the season leading up to it, Sandi said, “It’s a good way to end off the season, we did well and played our brand of rugby, and just ended off on a high.”
Sandi meets up with the rest of the players involved in SA Schools set up this year on Monday for their first training session. He is relishing the opportunity to represent his country at schools level.
Despite the pressure of being first team captain as well as a future SA Schools star, Sandi has not let his academics slip. “I’ve been balancing the two (rugby and academics) this whole year,” Sandi said, having just finished writing his exams, which he said went well.
Sandi conceded that the season had been difficult, but was proud of his team for constantly pushing themselves to do better. “It’s been up and down, but the boys just kept pushing and training every week to try and get better and ended the season with a high through perseverance and self belief.”
Sandi had a few words for his successors in the St. Andrew’s first team for next year. He said, “The guys should just keep going, playing for the badge and playing for the school. Just to keep going.”
