Fantastic Ferreira defies Father Time
Yesterday at 12:04 AM
Schalk Ferreira is the romance story of the EPCR Challenge Cup. The Cheetahs front rower turns 41 years old next February but he has no intention of stopping a career that professionally started in 2005.
Ferreira, in the last months as a 40 year-old, started at loosehead prop against USAP Perpignan in the Cheetahs Challenge Cup opening fixture in Amsterdam, which doubles as their home venue.
He lasted 45 minutes, which is on par with his match time since the Cheetahs first played in the Challenge Cup in the 2022/23 season. Ferreira has started 10 of the Cheetahs’ 11 competition matches over the past three seasons.
His performance against Perpignan betrayed his age. He got around the field as he did 20 years ago and did not take a step back in any scrum engagement.
READ: Oupa in as Cheetahs power up for Cardiff
If the Challenge Cup is usually the stage for youngsters, then Ferreira is an incredible exception and one that must be appreciated, cherished and his is a rugby story that must be told and retold.
What an inspiration from a player who has done it all, in every competition across the world. He has played Currie Cup, Vodacom Cup, Super Rugby, Pro Rugby (the predecessor to the Vodacom URC), Top 14, Investec Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.
He is also not a journeyman-type player because wherever he has gone, he has done his talking on the field. Toulouse, as one example, recruited Ferreira as a medical joker for a few months and ended up offering him a three year contract.
Ferreira was schooled at the famed Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch. It is as much a rugby institution as it is one of the most revered schooling institutions in South Africa.
He played for Western Province at every junior level and transitioned to the under-21 ranks, which included playing for South Africa. His professional debut came in 2005, as a 21 year-old, and nearly 20 years later is still anchoring the scrum at the highest club level.
There was a two year break in 2010 and 2011 because of a neck injury, but he returned to rugby in 2012, started all 10 of Western Province's matches in the Vodacom Cup and was influential in Western Province winning the competition for the first time.
Ferreira's journey has taken him from the Western Cape, to the Eastern Cape for the Southern Kings' historic introduction into Super Rugby and then Pro 14, to France and back to the Cheetahs. His rugby travels have included Australia, New Zealand, France, England, Italy, Ireland and Wales.
He never quite made it to the summit of Test rugby, with his 'Test' experience limited to a one-off match for the World XV in 2014. But what an occasion it was because Ferreira played against the Springboks at Newlands on 7th June that year.
The Boks won 47-13, but Ferreira got to savour a Test match atmosphere at his most cherished ground, shared a change room with celebrated World XV Test players and experienced a week under the stewardship of former Springboks and Italian head coach Nick Mallett.
Ferreira, at club level, has measured himself against the best tighthead props in the game and never shirked the challenge. He has consistently scaled peak performance at club level, playing 58 matches for Western Province, 16 for the DHL Stormers, 22 for the Eastern Province Kings, 77 for the Southern Kings, 35 for Toulouse and a solitary outing for Boland, when on loan from Western Province in 2009.
Since 2021, he has been the first name on the Cheetahs team sheet wearing No 1, and he leads the pack with the guile of a 40 year-old but also with the energy of a 21 year-old.
The Cheetahs were strong in the set piece against USAP and they will have to be as competitive to get a result against Cardiff in Cardiff on Saturday evening.
“I really enjoyed it, and the pack really played well," said Ferreira in media interviews post the 20-all draw against Perpignan. “You know the old adage, 'the strength of the wolf is in the pack', so yeah, it's easy to perform if the pack is performing. Lineouts, mauls, maul stopping – all the set-pieces were really good from our side. I actually just think three soft moments cost us the game.
“So we are inches away from putting on a really good performance. I'm not closing any doors just yet, and as long as I can keep playing my heart out, I’m going to enjoy it.”
Former Cheetahs lock and forwards coach Corniel van Zyl is part of the Cardiff technical coaching team and Van Zyl this week spoke of the character of Ferreira, the spirit of the Cheetahs and the flamboyant manner in which they play, which always makes them a favourite for the neutral.
“It will be a bit of mixed emotions because it is the Cheetahs,” admitted Van Zyl. “But the game is professional and I have a job to do and that is to help Cardiff win. I am sure it will be a great catch up afterwards, but my focus is on Cardiff and doing my bit to our overall success.”
Ferreira, having experienced Cardiff in Pro Rugby, knows the Cheetahs can't afford soft moments.
“It is great to be playing in the Challenge Cup and getting games against quality sides. We want to show we belong in the competition,” he said. “And you do that by winning and making play-off rounds.”
Photo: Shaun Roy/Gallo Images
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