Highly rated 20-year-old Namibian-born rugby player Jurenzo Julius, has decided to play for South Africa instead of his country of birth, having already represented South Africa's U-20 side.

Nicknamed "The Boogie Man," Julius attended Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, South Africa, which facilitated his path to playing for the Springboks.

The Mariental-born Julius plays centre for the Natal Sharks in the United Rugby Championship and is currently one of the most talked-about young rugby players in South Africa.

He was being interviewed on the Super Rugby Show about his time with the Sharks. Ironically, Julius is from Stellenbosch, before relocating to Natal for his professional rugby career.

Percy Montgomery, born in Walvis Bay before Namibian independence (when Walvis Bay was under South African authority), is one high-profile former player born in Namibia who went on to play for the Springboks.

"I am very grateful to everyone at the club (Sharks)," Julius said in a Zoom interview with Super Rugby. "Yes, everyone at the club (players) has started to play together as a unit. It was not easy to move away from home to Natal, but I have managed to cope so far."

This week, Confidente spoke with Johan Diergaardt, vice-president of the Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) and former Welwitschias coach, to get his perspective on Julius's decision.

Diergaardt explained that the union did its best to persuade Julius to play for Namibia, but the player's mind was already made up before they approached him.

"Even during his U-13 years, he was already in South Africa," Diergaardt said. "He spent most of his life playing for Paul Roos Gymnasium and never played for Namibia's U-13 team in the Craven Week. We spoke with him and his father, but he made it clear that he was not interested in playing for Namibia at this stage. He's not the only one; many other players in the past have preferred to try and play for South Africa."

Many players who participate in the Craven Week have the opportunity to play for South Africa due to the professionalism of South African rugby.

South Africa's Springboks have dominated world rugby in recent years, winning back-to-back Rugby World Cups (2019 and 2023).

"Some players don't make it with South Africa and end up playing for Namibia," Diergaardt added. "But he will make it and become a Springbok. He is good, as he has been playing professional rugby for the Sharks for the past two years. I listened to his interview last night (Monday). He said he was born in Mariental, but his father works in Walvis Bay. I know his father very well."

"His first option is to play for South Africa. It's an opportunity for the player. Not to say the Springboks are better, but they are a professional outfit, world champions, and we are far from