Star in the making: Aspiring rugby star Dehan Coreejes and his parents Lucas and Carli fundraising at the Shepparton Bulls Rugby Union Club.
Photo by
Ree Peric
Moving from rugby-mad South Africa to rugby-sparse Victoria would be hard for anyone who has grown up with the sport but if your future is bright playing the sport, that would be an even tougher challenge.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
That was the reality for 12-year-old Dehan Coreejes when his family moved to Benalla from Paarl in the Western Cape province of South Africa just over a year ago.
To continue playing the sport he loves, Dehan travels to train with the Shepparton Bulls Rugby Club every Tuesday and Thursday night.
Dehan was excited to make the move to Australia but he noticed it was a very different rugby scene to what the young flanker was use to.
Team bonding: Dehan with his friends, Shepparton Bulls players from under-12s, 13s, 14s and 16s.
“After a few months we started in Shepp, and everything changed,” Dehan said.
“Everyone (at school) plays footy and soccer.
“It makes me tired (travelling for training) but yeah, I get used to it because it’s for sport.”
Dehan’s week has just become even busier as he has been selected to play for the Victorian state under-12s team who will play five games in Brisbane later this month.
What this means is the aspiring professional rugby player and his parents have a jam-packed week full of travel.
Dehan’s mother, Carli, says that they leave Benalla on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons about 4pm for Bulls’ training and arrive back home at 8pm, and that’s their shortest trip for the week.
“On Friday night he has training in Melbourne with the Rebels so then we get home at around about 11pm,” said Carli.
“But luckily the state team has said we don’t have to be at Friday practices so that helps a lot.
Sizzling away: Carly Ssali and Melissa Silaga cooking on the barbecue before training finishes.
Photo by
Ree Peric
“This coming Friday we have to be there because he’s getting his Rebels kit and he’s very excited.”
On game days on Saturday the family leaves home at 5.30am to play in Melbourne and return home to Benalla about 6pm and then it’s back to the city on Sunday for Rebels training.
Dehan and his family are the only ones in the state team who travel from far outside of Melbourne multiple times a week.
“I’m really excited (to play in Brisbane)” said Dehan.
“I can’t wait and it’s like over-excitement.
“I would love to play for Australia or South Africa ... to make it a career.”
Cross-sport support: Shepparton Soccer Club players coming to support after training in the pouring rain.
Photo by
Ree Peric
It seems Dehan still has a strong affinity with the South African national rugby team as he aspires to be like captain Siya Kolisi.
Dehan has the full backing of his club as the Shepparton Bulls have thrown multiple fundraises to support their emerging star player and cover the costs that a place in the state team incurs.
“We really appreciate it,” Carli said.
“It’s just amazing how everyone jumps in to help and support.
“They only started this year playing rugby (at the Sepparton Bulls) and it’s people that we don’t really know and all of a sudden they’re just overwhelming us with help and support and doing everything possible to see him to Brisbane.”
All kitted up: Dehan in his new Rebels gear on Friday night.
Photo by
Carli Coreejes
With the support he has around him, be that from his family or his club, the trip to Brisbane could be just the first step in an illustrious rugby career for Dehan.
Hopefully one day he flourishes in the gold of the Wallabies and not the dark green of the Springboks.
