While DHL Stormers coaches John Dobson and Dawie Snyman have both touted his future in midfield, Suleiman Hartzenberg is happy to keep showcasing his talent out wide in Cape Town. DYLAN JACK reports.
Since breaking through at the DHL Stormers in the 2022-23 season, Hartzenberg has predominantly been utilised on the wing.
The 20-year-old has been spoken about as an exciting future talent at outside centre, where he played most of his age-grade and youth rugby, but is still honing his craft.
“I do prefer playing there as well, but understanding where we are in the URC and what the coaches need of me now, I’m happy to play at wing,” Hartzenberg said. “I will keep giving my best out there.
“Later on, I can maybe make the shift to 13. But, for me, it’s just about whatever position I’m in, that I give my best no matter what.”
Hartzenberg gave a timely reminder of his deadly finishing with a hat trick of tries in the Vodacom URC bonus-point win against Edinburgh last Saturday, in front of over 20 000 fans at Cape Town stadium.
“Me being on the scoreboard so often is a team success,” he said. “How hard the forwards were working, the definitely helped. Having Manie [Libbok] there, Damian [Willemse] on my inside and Dan [du Plessis] was on fire, it made my job a lot easier.
“Regardless of the number of people, packed or not packed, it’s always a vibe at the stadium. Just seeing the smile on everyone’s faces is amazing. Whether it’s the small boy at the front, the old man at the back, the auntie, everyone is happy to be there.
“You get this sense of camaraderie, everyone is focusing on one cause and that’s to make Cape Town smile. Whether it’s me scoring or a forward, everyone is so happy. The environment is amazing.”
Hat-Trick Hero Hartzenberg 🦸♂️
Watch all three tries here 👉 #BKTURC #URC | @TheStormers
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) March 26, 2024
Harzenberg was part of the recent 43-player Springbok alignment camp in Pretoria, getting his second Test of an international camp after touring Europe with the South Africa A side in November 2022.
“It was an amazing experience. Just being in that environment, seeing how everything works. It added to my aspirations of becoming a Springbok,” he said.
“With saying that, you have to perform for the Stormers first. Hopefully, if you do everything right, you will get that recognition of a Springbok call-up. For me, my focus is purely on the Stormers for now. Whatever happens, happens.”
Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix