Lambie's Craven Week journey

After 14 years, the South Africa's Coca-Cola Craven Week tournament will return to KwaZulu-Natal as the 53rd edition of the competition is set to take place Kearsney College from July 11-16.

The province has produced many of the country's finest players. One in particular, Patrick Lambie, stands head and shoulders above the rest - having represented the Springboks at two World Cups, despite being just 25-years-old.

"I was over the moon when I was selected for Coca-Cola Craven Week. It was a dream that I was never really sure would come true. But, once you realise that so many of the players on both the Super Rugby and Springbok stage have been through the Coca-Cola Craven Week, it gives you hope that you could make it there one day. It was no different for me back then," Lambie said.

He took flight during his High School year where he played an integral role both for his school, Michaelhouse, and provincial teams. He represented KZN in the Coca-Cola Craven Week in 2007 and 2008, and was selected for the SA Schools team for both those years.

His 2008 resume consisted of being Head Boy and captaining both KZN's rugby and cricket Under-18 sides. It wasn't long before he got his call up to the national side, and has since racked up 50 Springbok caps as well as captaining the Sharks for their 2016 Super Rugby season.

Lambie is the perfect role model for young, aspiring rugby players. He has the world at his feet but is still as humble and hardworking as the schoolboy at the Coca-Cola Craven Week.

"Make sure that you enjoy yourselves as much as possible. When you are having fun you often play your best!" he added as motivation to the 2016 crop of players.

KZN will be looking to use home ground advantage and finally feature in the main game, something they have not done since they hosted the tournament back in 1990.