Exclusive: Two-time SA Schools star Jarrod Taylor clears up Baby Boks selection snub

Former SA Schools player Jarrod Taylor has come out to clear the air regarding the rumours surrounding his SA U20 (Baby Boks) squad exclusion.

The East London-born forward, who is at home both as a lock or blindside flanker was a notable omission in the list of players that was announced by new Baby Boks coach Bafana Nhleko on Friday afternoon. Due to Taylor’s high school rugby reputation, many a spectator would’ve been expecting his name to be amongst the first announced by Nhleko, but it proved not to be forthcoming.

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The omission of his name then seemed to lead to rife speculation on his whereabouts or the potential cause of his absence. Rumours then began to circulate, with this publication eventually receiving news from a source that Taylor, who was part of the initial SA Rugby Academy wider training group which was named for closer assessment by Nhleko, had walked out of the camp.

Taylor clears the rumours

Speaking exclusively to The South African, Taylor admitted that those rumours were indeed factual before going on to give his reasons.

“ Unfortunately it is true, it was just because I’ve got studies on the side as well and the training at the camp was just very hectic for me, so I pulled out just to focus on studying,” said Taylor.

Taylor then continued by stating that, those circumstances are not the ones he would’ve wanted his time in the Baby Boks camp to end in.

“Obviously that wasn’t ideal, but I just felt, it was best for my studies to do that”.

Taylor is touted to have a bright future after a promising schoolboy career

Taylor, a Selborne College Old Boy moved from the Sharks Academy to Western Province in rather acrimonious circumstances, he admitted last year. The reluctance of the Sharks to let the top prodigy go was testament to how highly thought of his talents were not only at the Shark Tank but at SARU too, who regard him as a player of national interest, having represented SA Schools two years in a row.

The next question would’ve been, would both Maties and WP be losing their new prized asset to the books too? Taylor was then quick to ease such concerns.

He confirmed he will still play for Western Province

“I’m still definitely going to be with the Western Province u20’s I’ve been training with them. It was just that the camp was for such a long period of time and so hectic and that’s the only reason why I pulled out. But yes, I’m still with both Province and Maties” Taylor clarified.

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Taylor was earmarked as Varsity Cup young player to watch in the current campaign but was unable to feature as he has struggled with injury so far this year. The 20-year-old will now look to impress with the books, before hitting the ground running for the upcoming u20 championships for Western Province.