By Francois de Wet
When Sanlam Boland Cavaliers winger Lunathi Nxele left his hometown of Kariega (Uitenhage) to pursue a rugby career 10 years ago the encouraging words of one of his childhood coaches stuck with him.
“‘Rugby will take you places,’ That is what coach Zolani Matomela always used to tell us,” Nxele recalls.
Ever since making the move from the Eastern to the Western Cape, Nxele has never looked back after first rising to fame as part of the two-time winning Varsity Shield side, Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), and having first cut his teeth in Western Province (WP) club rugby with Super League A side Villager FC.
“My time at CPUT was my best memories in Cape Town so far,” Nxele says. “Yes, it had its ups and downs, but when I first got to CPUT, it was their first time playing in the Varsity Shield. I’m happy to say the memories and the change we made as a team were unbelievable.
From [the University] building a gym to reconstructing the rugby field and putting up new floodlights.”
Sadly, Nxele says, he does regret not being able to help CPUT qualify for the premier intervarsity competition, the Varsity Cup.
His time as a CPUT player had come to an end and a new challenge awaited as provincial rugby came knocking with the Phangela South Western District (SWD) Eagles securing the versatile backline player’s signature in 2021, who had made a name for himself as a fleetfooted and hard-running centre.
Unfortunately, Nxele did not see much game time in his time down in George, not because of non-selection but due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was a really tough period for the team, Nxele continued: “I recall we played maybe only two to three games that season, and I did not stay in George for long. But I am glad for the nearly six months I was there, as it helped me grow tremendously. Especially my mental strength.”
Nxele could again draw comfort from the words of coach Matomela, and before he knew it, the Sanlam Boland Cavaliers came knocking in November 2021.
The former Muir College player also had a brief stint in Italy playing for Avezzano Rugby right before he returned to South Africa to join the Wellington side.
“Italy was special to me, it was my first time going overseas,” says Nxele.
“I enjoyed Italy so much the people and the culture opened my mind to certain things in life. This part of my life helped me to know how to adjust to things – a ‘work-with-what-you-have’ kind of lesson.”
With his mind and body levelled up, Nxele has risen to stardom in his return to the Sanlam Boland Cavaliers. Helping them win the Currie Cup First Division title and already making a huge impact in the first two games of this year’s SA Cup.
Nxele scored a hattrick of tries in the Kavas’ opening game win against the Toyota Cheetahs in Wellington and dotted down for his fourth in last week’s close loss to the NovaVit Griffons in Welkom.
Chasing tries, however, is the last thing on the now-regular right winger’s mind. The overall goal of qualifying for the Currie Cup Premier Division takes preference over individual milestones.
“Ever since I started playing the game as a youngster at Ankervas Primary School, I never considered myself as a person that has to go out and score tries or focus on scoring try.
“With the system and team that we have here at here at the Cavas, I might see myself maybe competing on being the top try scorer, but I am certainly not focused on that.”
And of adjusting from playing centre to becoming a winger in the Hawies Fourie-coached side, he adds: “As I said previously my time in Italy [where I also played in different positions] prepared me for such challenges.
“Adjusting and adapting is one thing that I learned over there and, at the moment, it’s about the team and not about me. I will do what’s best for them. I’m always willing to learn and grow as a human being.”
“Should the time come for me to play at centre, I believe strongly in always being ready, if I get the opportunity to play centre I will do my best to make the team better.”