Blommetjies gives up Bok dream, sets sights on Wales stardom

Cape Town - Fullback Clayton Blommetjies believes he was treated unfairly by former Springbok coach Allister Coetzee.

Blommetjies, who is set to leave the Cheetahs for Welsh club Scarlets, says he has given up his dream of playing for the Springboks.

Instead, the 27-year-old has now set his sights on playing Test rugby for Wales.

Blommmetjies will arrive in Wales before World Rugby raises its residency qualification period for international players from three to five years in 2020.

In an interview with the Wales Online website, Blommetjies said he believed he was good enough to play for the Springboks but was overlooked by Coetzee for the past two seasons.

“I don’t even think about wearing the green and gold anymore because I never had an opportunity to do it,” Blommetjies said.

“Last year in Super Rugby I was playing the best rugby of my career and the coach Franco Smith told me 'you are good enough to become a Springbok at the end of the year',” Blommetjies noted.

“But Allister picked players ahead of me not because of how they played throughout the year, but because they were his favourites. Players like Elton Jantjies were selected because he knew them.

“After that I thought I’m not going to fight for the green and gold anymore, I want to go overseas and when my agent told me he had an offer from the Scarlets, I said yes immediately.”

In the interview, Blommetjies also revealed that he was a promising cricketer in his youth and he shed light on which player he idolised growing up.

READ the full Wales Online story.