Naledi dances his way to a professional Cavas contract

RENALDO ‘Naledi’ Young is proof that hard work when everything else does not seem to go your way, pays off.

The nickname “Naledi” was given to him by his friends while he was dancing on Paarl’s famous Stoepe.

One of the newest contracted members of the Sanlam Boland Cavaliers squad has faced numerous uphill battles since he began dreaming of becoming a professional rugby player.

In 2023, the Paarl-born former New Orleans High School learner got his first taste of euphoria when a gesture from Springbok Sevens coach Philip Snyman made him think he was just a phone call away from the big time.

“It was the weekend of the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final, where I played in the Forward Faster Sevens tournament, Young recalls. “The Blitzboks also participated in the tournament, and I had the opportunity to play and test my skills against them.

“After my team’s semi-final game against them, I remember coach Philip giving me the thumbs up and later on asking for my contact details.”

The call to come and train unfortunately never came for Young, who, like during the Covid-19 pandemic, had once again been left pondering the ‘what-if’ question about when his big break would come.

During his high school years at New Orleans High School, there was no call-up to a Boland Schools or Boland Academy Schools side.

After school, Naledi had to go and work, starting with a 12-month leadership at an engineering company before getting a job in the control room of the Drakenstein Municipality’s law enforcement department.

During this time, he played for his boyhood club, Albions, in Western Province club rugby.

The winger then decided to make the move to the Boland Rugby Union after signing on to play for Hillcrest United in 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, bringing club rugby to a standstill.

Working at his third new job, as a lifeguard at a local municipal pool, he was again forced to park the dream of becoming a professional rugby player.