Here’s to the next crop

Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - 14:59

He’s local, he’s big, quick and strong, and he’s a bright young star with a great future ahead of him. Flank Justin Downey received the Best Forward of the Year Award at the Under 21 prize-giving at the conclusion of the season; he is certainly a player to watch in the coming years.

Having turned 21 last month, he currently finds himself part of the greater Sharks Super 14 training squad as a member of the High Performance group, a select collection of age group players who have been identified as future Sharks, and who will more than likely start with Vodacom Cup rugby as the next step in their elevation to top-flight rugby.

Given his performances in the ABSA Under 21 Competition, this ascent may well be sooner rather than later. His style resembles Springbok flank Juan Smith who has had virtually every platitude possible attributed to him – Downey is in good company.

Smith might be a hard act to follow, but Downey will look to this player’s World Cup performances for inspiration in his own quest to reach the top.

Locally schooled, he attended Northwood, and after school went to play in New Zealand for a while. This year he attended Murray Mexted’s IRANZ Academy in New Zealand and in between the stints in the land of the All Blacks, he has represented this province at Duikers, Natal Amateur, Wildebeest Trials, Club Championships (College Rovers) and Under 21 level.

Adding to his impressive CV is the fact that he represented the Sharks Academy at the Singapore and SA 7s at the conclusion of the season. “We had a good trip,” he says, “and then came back and went through to Cape Town for the National Sevens. We were a bit unlucky losing in the quarters in the last minute.”

Surely his experience in both codes – 15-man and sevens rugby - can only stand him in good stead. Certainly Ryan Kankowski is proof of that.

“I had a good Under 21 season this year,” he admits, “and things are taking off. I’m looking forward to being involved with the Sharks, to learning a lot.”

The Sharks have a large squad and there are quite a few youngsters that have come through from Under 21. “What has been done is to split the squad into two, with a regular training squad and a high performance squad [where he is], a fast-track squad for the Wildebeest,” he explains.

“They’ll run us the same as what the Sharks are doing, so when injuries happen and guys get pulled in, they know exactly what they need to do, and have the skills and strengths to do it.”

He admits that he has realistic expectations of the year ahead. “I’ll take it as it happens,” he says, “so when an opportunity comes, you have to grasp it. The guys are looking forward to it, playing Wildebeest rugby, some Currie Cup rugby when the Boks go away and just wait for the gaps to open.”

He explains that having progressed up the ranks and from junior to senior level, it doesn’t automatically mean Sharks colours, but that it is all part of a plan. “This is a long term thing for us, a progression. Those of us in the High Performance squad obviously have our ambitions, but we also have to be realistic and will just take things as they come, and when they do, grab them with both hands.”