Philip du Plessis watches as Nicus van der Merwe waves with the kicking foot. (Photo: Screengrab)
South Africa’s barefoot rugby players dream of one day following in the footsteps of Handré Pollard, Cheslin Kolbe or Faf de Klerk.
Just like his schoolmates, 12-year-old Philip du Plessis also has a great love and passion for rugby, but he has been diagnosed with achondroplasia and due to his dwarfism, he cannot always live out his heart’s dreams.
Tog often begins some of life’s greatest highlights with the smallest step and this young Middelburger took this step almost with surrender.
And it all started when he recently put on one of Laerskool Middelburg’s rugby jerseys.
When Nicus van der Merwe – captain and flyhalf of the school’s first rugby team – saw him, he came up with a brilliant plan: Let Philip run at the front when the players run out in their next game.
However, it was in an important local derby against Middelburg Primary School and Philip was initially scared of what the coaches’ reaction would be.
After all, such a game in the countryside is an important thing to do.
But if the captain speaks, then a man must listen, right? A sweater and trousers (hopelessly too big, of course) were made for him.organise and there he goes!
The first chapter of “Flippie the Good Luck” has been written.
Since then, a video has been widely shared on social media where he is enjoying himself on the playing field. While Van der Merwe prepares to drive the ball cleanly through the posts with a set-piece attempt, Philip watches the action wide-eyed – and with his captain’s scrum stuck squarely on his head.
He retired with Van der Merwe and when the fly-half waved with his right foot, he almost cowered from pure nerves.
A short time later he gives the scrumpet back and runs excitedly from the field with the green kick cone.
“Wow, it means a lot to me that Philip me tee bring me because it calms me down. He is someone who is always there for us and he helps us a lot,” Van der Merwe said.
According to Philip’s parents – Jacques and Christelle – he tells after every game how nice it is for him just to be involved with the team.
“The past two weeks played an incredible role in his life. He prayed one night and just said thank you that something like this could happen to him,” the Du Plessis couple told Maroela Media.
They are also full of praise for the coach (CT Mostert) who made him part of the team’s matches.
“We are also in education and we know the role teachers can play in children’s lives. We cannot thank the teacher enough; Philip regards him and the other rugby players as role models.”
Philip is very sporty and he often plays cricket and golf. His parents enrolled him in the US Kids Golf initiative and plans are often made to give him a boost against his opponents’ driving stroke play.
Philip is also a keen golfer. (Photo: Provided)
“For us, he is a person full of character, a boy with dreams, a caring heart and a personality that you cannot ignore. He deals with every day’s obstacles with his positive attitude.
Van der Merwe wholeheartedly agrees; One can learn a lot from Philip.
“Although you can’t always achieve what you want, you still have to be positive and happy,” was the young rugby captain’s answer when he was asked about a specific lesson.
If you want to be a role model like “Flippie” one day, you will have to wear a no.12 shoe or bigger. This little guy leaves big tracks.
(Photo: Provided)