Incoming Sanlam Boland Cavaliers hooker Llewellyn Classen is enjoying the fact that he gets to speak his huistaal, Afrikaans, since making the move to the Western Cape a few weeks ago.
The former Airlink Pumas front-ranker says, contrary to popular belief, the preferred language in Mbombela (formerly known as Nelspruit) is English. Classen certainly did not think it was the case when he arrived at the Mbombela side.
Especially after it feels like he has had to speak English most of his life, having matriculated from Pretoria Boys High, an English-medium school.
“Yes, I must say, my wife and I are enjoying it here [in Wellington],” the burly hooker said. “The people here are so friendly, and I am enjoying the fact that we get to speak Afrikaans here on a more regular basis.
“We are not used to being surrounded by so many Afrikaans-speaking people, so for us it is very nice.”
Although Classen has tasted a lot of success during his time at the Pumas, the 25-year-old admits he had to walk a bit of a dirt road to get to play professional rugby.
“Ja, I did not get to represent my province [Bulls] at Craven Week when I matriculated in 2017. I was, however, fortunate to get recognised and signed for the Bulls’ Tuks (University of Pretoria) Academy the next year.
“I managed to win Player of the Season in my very first season at Tuks and also got to play for the Bulls U19 side that lost the final of the SA Rugby U19 competition to Western Province.”
The following year, Classen got to taste silverware with the Bulls’ U21 side as they beat the Sharks in the final of the 2019 age-grade competition.
Rising through the ranks as a promising Bulls youngster, Classen was selected for the senior Bulls side in the then SuperSport Challenge competition and during the 2021 Carling Currie Cup campaign, after helping Tuks win the 2021 Varsity Cup title.
However, Classen wanted more and did not want to just play for match fees whenever a shot at a senior call-up to the Bulls came his way. That is when Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse came knocking as the mercurial coach started building a squad capable of winning the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division title.
Classen signed on and, within a year, was standing tall alongside his new teammates as the Pumas won the 2022 Carling Currie Cup. Making history as the first side, outside of the big five unions (Bulls, Cheetahs, Lions, Western Province, and Sharks), to win the coveted provincial prize.
And with Classen starting to slot in as a regular in the Stonehouse-coached team. Someone, Classen says, is forever indebted to him for giving him his first shot at a fully professional rugby career.
“Coach Jimmy really had a great impact on my career,” the hooker says. “He gave me an opportunity that I always hoped for. When I was at the Bulls, I was not contracted and only played for match fees. To him, I will always be grateful for giving me a shot as a professional.
“He is a wonderful person and a wonderful coach. He always takes players from Varsity Cup or guys that no one rates, and he invests his time into that player, getting them up to a standard where they can spread their wings.”
Most recently, Classen was also part of the Pumas’ SA Cup-winning campaign, and the question begs as to why he would leave such a successful outfit.
“The thing is, I have always wanted to come and play rugby on this side of the world, and especially in Boland,” Classen reveals. “After they qualified for the Carling Currie Cup, I realised they are a team that truly wants to move in that upward trajectory. They are a proud union, and everyone here is just so passionate about the game.
“I have not been to a Boland club rugby game yet, but from the videos that I have seen and hearing teammates talk about it at training, you just get the sense that everyone is just so in tune with the game on all levels within the region.
“Also, the fact that coach Hawies is such a wonderful coach. When he was at the Cheetahs, he took them to Currie Cup success. The [Sanlam] Boland [Cavaliers] also play a brand of rugby that I love to play. Running rugby.
“I did my four years at the Pumas, and then I just felt that it was now time to make the move and grow my career as a player. Normally, when you choose to stay at one place, there is the danger of becoming stagnant, and you reach a comfort zone that can be very difficult to get out of.”
Classen, who got to put on the Sanlam Boland Cavaliers jersey for the first time in Sunday, 13 July’s warm-up game against Suzuki Griquas, says he is steadily learning the ropes at his new team.
“Everyone is working so hard since I joined the side a few weeks ago. They are putting in the hours, and I am looking forward to playing here this season.
“There are a few guys that have been here for a couple of years and that have been showing us the ropes.
“The guys are humble, and I enjoy it, because it is not something that I am quite used to. You normally get a few guys who are a bit big-headed and so on. Here, the guys are like a family.
“On the field, we work hard, and when we are done, the conversation gets going.”
But to truly be part of the Cavas family, Classen knows he quickly has to find himself a favourite Grootuitdaag club to support.
“I don’t know all the teams that well yet and who plays where, but I will definitely try and find out from some of my [team]mates who are the big dogs and try and go out to watch some games,” he concludes.