Baby Bok up for U20 accolade

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Junior Springbok scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse has been nominated as one of four players for the World Rugby U20 Championship Breakthrough Player of the Tournament award.

Hendrikse will go head-to-head with French flyhalf Louis Carbonel, Argentina centre Juan Pablo Castro and Australian flank Fraser McReight for the award.

READ: BABY BOKS' SHARKS CONNECTION

Hendrikse - who turned 19 years-old in March – made his debut for the Junior Springboks in the U20 International Series in the Western Cape in April, and he has been a key figure in the squad since.

He is a product of SA Rugby’s Elite Player Development programme, with his selection for the Junior Springbok squad following appearances in the U17 SA Rugby Interprovincial Sevens tournament, U18 SA Rugby Craven Week and the SA Schools team in the  U18 International Series.

His cool head and calm presence on the field has earned him a starting berth in all four of the team’s World Rugby U20 Championship matches up to now. This skill combined with his good vision, solid goal-kicking and ability to capitalise on try-scoring opportunities has seen him score two tries, seven conversions and four penalty goals for a contribution of 36 points in the competition.