Exclusive: Mom opens up about the Glenwood Prep rugby saga
A Glenwood Prep mom contacted us to share her side of the story and what her family has been going through since the news broke.
The gripping news of two overage rugby boys at Glenwood Prep has sent shockwaves through KZN. This week, the school sent out a press release stating that two of their rugby-playing boys were 15 when they played for the school's Under-12 team. Both players then went on to represent the province at the Under-13 Craven Week - which KZN won last year.
We were contacted by a Glenwood Prep mom who wished to remain anonymous to protect the identity of her family. She said her two boys were on the same team as the overage boys and are completely devastated by the ordeal. The mom explains that a brotherhood was formed with these two boys over two years.
"I am tired of people saying surely you can see they were overage, surely it was evident. No, it wasn't, not with this team you couldn’t," the mom exclaimed.
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"My son is 13, but he’s bigger than those two boys and I won’t share a picture to prove my point because I don’t want these kids being all over social media, but three-quarters of that team was bigger than those two boys!" said the mom.
"We are in absolute shock and, yes, everybody is entitled to their opinions but they have no idea how it’s affected the innocent boys and their rugby career from last year. The said boys are still kids and need protection from adults who have distorted their talents for their own benefit and gain. Just remember there are kids out there that are hurting from this and are shocked with disbelief. People are hurting, trying to come to terms with it, too. Just bare those kids in mind, too, please."
We asked the Glenwood mom if she wanted to do an on-air interview with the team, but she refused, saying she and her boys would become too emotional.
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"This is still so emotional for us. Our boys have changed their WhatsApp profiles to that of them and their brothers (these two boys). We have lost sons as we loved them like our own and will continue to do so," she added.
"I will be way too emotional. I don’t read comments nor post on any social media page regarding this because nobody will know what we as a GPS rugby family are going through. Our boys need to know they are loved, talented, and are star players in their own right, having made KZN and Durban Coastal.
"The overage boys cannot take away the talent that lay within that U13A team last year. People need to know that and understand that. The 18 that remain are a talented bunch of boys and deserve what they have achieved in their own right. If you would like to mention what I have on air, I do not mind. Just through this all know that there are kids hurting even the overaged ones too (regardless of how they got to GPS)."
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Surprisingly, many have said that this isn't the first time an incident like this has happened.
Siyabonga Tom, who played school rugby for Glenwood, and Mbembe Payi, from Durban High School, were the cream of the crop in school rugby. They both made the provincial team at Under-18 level and played at the Craven Week. Impressed by their skills at Craven Week, the boys were in contention for SA Schools.
Bone density tests were done to determine whether or not they were Under-18 players - and the tests proved the boys were actually 22 years of age.
This is a developing story. The Newswatch Team has all the updates.