Watson follows in his Father's footsteps

By CHRIS RATTUE

As a child, Luke Watson never had a birthday party.

Now 19, and surely destined to be a rugby hero for the Springboks one day, the Sharks flanker is part of a remarkable story, which included Watson living his childhood as an "outcast" in the white community.

Watson's father Daniel, known as Cheeky, was a famous opponent of South Africa's apartheid system, an influential figure of action and hope as non-racial democracy was brought in.

One of the many penalties for Cheeky Watson's brave decency and fight for change was the effect on his family, including Luke and his sister.

At the height of his rugby powers in 1976, Cheeky Watson - a Junior Springbok wing from Port Elizabeth - turned his back on a test jersey to fight for the rights of black and coloured people oppressed by the vicious regime.

Along with his three brothers, all fired by Christian beliefs, they risked the lives of themselves and their families.

On October 10, 1975, Cheeky and Valence - the two brothers still playing - took part in the first, illegal game of multi-racial rugby in South Africa, and changed their families' lives for ever.

They could have had a comfortable existence, coming from a family with a successful clothing business.

Instead, Cheeky became a hero of the black townships, coaching and playing there - turning down the bribe of a top post in the South African Defence Force in the process.

The three other brothers worked for the rebel African National Congress - Valence and Ronnie for the ANC's armed wing, Gavin in churches, businesses and liberal white communities.

As enemies of the secret police, the brothers were watched, bugged, followed and arrested.

Visitors to the Watson home included famous footballers such French fullback Serge Blanco. Fame may have protected the family to a point, although Gavin was stabbed and threatened with a fatal fall in a Port Elizabeth jail, and a family home was burnt down.

When asked about the most frightening incidents Luke Watson says: "My dad said he knew there was a chance that he and his family would be murdered."

Cheeky Watson is still fighting for his beliefs in that complicated land.

He stood for president of Eastern Province rugby, criticising the incumbent who stated EP rugby had to be kept "out of the hands of the whites". Cheeky opposed quotas in South African rugby.

Luke Watson is also fired with Christian zeal to change the world, saying his country is still in "turmoil". He even wants to change the way rugby is played in South Africa.

As the Sharks prepared in Whangamata for tomorrow's match against the Chiefs, Watson spoke with a rapid-fire determination beyond what might be expected of a normal teenager. But then he has hardly had a normal life.

He is an unlikely Springboks contender. After all, they were hardly a symbol of pride in his household.

"I am still a solo guy because of what we have been through. I want to try and revolutionise the game in South Africa."

You can see this on the field. South African rugby has been full of large-framed loose forwards, juggernauts on both sides of the scrum. To this day, there often seems little difference between No. 6 and 7 when a South Africa team list comes out.

But the superfit, hardworking 97kg Watson is in the mould of the great New Zealand and Australian openside flankers. All his life he has had to be hard, had to be the loner on a mission. There was only one position for him.

His father first pointed out All Blacks openside Josh Kronfeld to the youngster at the 1995 World Cup.

At the time, Luke Watson had limited interest in rugby. But later he carefully studied Kronfeld's lines of running on film.

Watson captained South African schools, played for the national sevens team, and burst on to the Super 12 this year with the struggling Sharks.

But extraordinarily, Watson claims his family's history will still somehow count against him. Maybe it is too difficult to forget his years as a young outcast.

"There is a strong chance I will never be a Springbok. I still always assume the worst."

He has immense pride in his father.

"I envy him in a way, being able to fight for a cause he believed in so much his life was at stake.

"I try my very best in rugby but my religion comes first. I am not what you think a rugby player is. I don't drink. I don't have a girlfriend.

"There are much more important things in life than rugby. Still, I would be very proud to wear the Springboks jersey because my father should have worn it.

"He sacrificed all that a long time ago. I would be very proud to wear it for him."