Schools rugby ace Ethan Adams. Image: The Weekend Photography via Grey College Instagram page.
Is this the best-ever schoolboy centre in South Africa?
On the basis of his on-field performances for Grey College, outside centre Ethan Adams is heading straight to the top.
Schools rugby ace Ethan Adams. Image: The Weekend Photography via Grey College Instagram page.
Ethan Adams has been one of the most consistent performers throughout this year’s schools rugby campaign. But can he be considered as one of South Africa’s all-time great age-grade players?
Schools rugby plays a vital in role in the success of South African rugby in general and the Springboks in particular.
Many schools rugby stars have gone on to not only become some of the best sports people this country has ever produced, but also the greatest the oval-shaped ball game has ever seen.
So use just two examples of current rugby greats: Damian Willemse (25) and Handre Pollard (30).
Four years apart in age, the duo were the absolute best in their respective first team’s. Playing for Paarl Gymnasium, Pollard was always destined for the top, with many predicting he would be the greatest Springbok flyhalf ever.
Now, two World Cup titles and a couple of Rugby Championships later, Pollard has a legitimate claim to that label.
And Willemse is no different. Having played first team for Paul Roos from Grade 11, Willemse was quickly singled out as the best schools player on the block, who always looked bound for Springbok rugby. And just a few years later, he is the youngest player to win two Rugby World Cups.
But for every Pollard or Willemse, there are more than double the amount of youngsters that fall through the cracks despite being schoolboy sensations.
Hopefully, that doesn’t happen to Ethan Adams, the Grey College outside centre that has cut defences to shreds in 2023 and is still bulldozing over and through defenders in 2024.
A sports rugby page, dedicated to profiling the stars of tomorrow, recently posed the question: Will 17-year-old Ethan Adams be the best schoolboy rugby player ever?
While there is not a definite answer to the question, take a look at these highlight reels of Adams and decide for yourself.
WATCH: SCHOOLS RUGBY ACE ETHAN ADAMS HIGHLIGHTS
SCHOOLS RESULTS (Saturday, 27 April):
Grey High 7 Paul Roos 21
Wynberg Rugby 35 Bishops College 8
Paarl Gimnasium 35 SACS 10
Rondebosch 45 Melkbosstrand 13
Outeniqua 68 Parel Vallei 0
Milnerton 29 Bellville High 28
Stellenberg 76 Strand 10
KES Rugby 38 Jeppe 28
Pretoria Boys 36 Parktown Boys 35
St Stithians 12 Hudson Park 18
Maritzburg College 41 Westville Boys’ 10
Hilton College 26 Glenwood 7
Durban High 54 St Charles College 12
Michaelhouse 34 Kearsney College 19
Grey College 36 Selborne College 7
EG Jansen Rugby 32 Monument 15
