7 February 2023
Clifton learner Nicholas Gorrie welcomed a special visitor to the school on Monday, when Sharks’ prop Ntuthuko Mchunu paid him a visit.
Mchunu, who attended Maritzburg College, and was Head Boy in 2018, had promised Nicholas a new pair of Sharks socks on Saturday, 4 February, when the Sharks faced the Stormers, and he was true to his word, much to his young fan’s delight.
Since his school days, Mchunu has moved through the ranks of representing KZN in age group rugby and on into turning out for the Sharks franchise. He has also represented the Springboks in one test against Wales, but, at 23 years of age, there is plenty of time to add to that number.
Some have referred to Mchunu as Beast 2.0, as he has succeeded the beloved Zimbabwean-born prop, Tendai Mtawarira in the Sharks’ front row. Mtawarira played 117 tests for the Boks and 159 matches for the Sharks.
While humbled by the comparison, Mchunu has said it is his aim to create his own legacy. Actions like his visit to Clifton on Monday, while seemingly a small thing, will, no doubt, help endear him to a new generation of rugby fans and help build that legacy, because it is not only about what one does on the field that matters. The fact that he still embodies the values of Maritzburg College off the field and after his school days resonates with many.
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