'My uncle played for the Springboks': The tale of how URC winner got his grit

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SPOTLIGHT: For Glasgow Warriors' Henco Venter it was never a case of if he would play professional rugby – just a matter of when.

Born in Bloemfontein, the flanker played his youth rugby for the Free State, and was named in the Varsity Cup Dream Team in 2015.

His father coached him in High School and his uncle was 1995 Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok, Ruben Kruger.

Rugby has always been a huge part of life.

Despite Glasgow being almost 14,000 kilometres from where he grew up, you could almost say playing for the Warriors was always part of the plan too – given the man that brought him there.

Having not only played with his uncle, Franco Smith coached Henco's Varsity Cup team and was with him at the Cheetahs.

So there was always only going to be one answer when we asked him about the most influential coach on his career.

"There's a lot of coaches in different parts that played a role but I'd say it's Franco," he says.

"He coached me in Varsity and then we went to the Cheetahs and won some Currie Cups."

In his first season with Franco, he went to lift the Vodacom URC title with Glasgow Warriors, playing a key role off the bench in the Final.

But as we celebrate Origin Round across Rounds 11 and 12 in the Vodacom URC, the South African will never forget where he came from.

"It's next level," Venter said when asked how important is it to remember our Origins.

"I had so many heroes that I looked up to.

"When I played in the schools where I was, the Origin and the people supporting me, without them, you'd never be – you wouldn't be here.

"You wouldn't be here without your dad just telling you maybe do this bit or maybe do that and the coaches giving you opportunities.

"It's the most important thing for any young player also to keep the sport alive.

"It's next level. That's why I always go and give back to them."