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Junior Springboks captain Riley Norton says lifting the World Rugby U20 Championship trophy in Italy stands as the proudest moment of his sporting journey so far.
The gifted all-rounder previously represented South Africa at the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup earlier this year, where the Proteas reached the semi-finals.
After juggling both sports at elite junior level, Norton chose to focus on rugby full-time, a decision that has clearly paid dividends.
He says cricket shaped his discipline and competitive mindset, but rugby ultimately won his heart.
"Playing the U19 Cricket World Cup at home was extremely special to me, having my friends and family there and having my home crowd, we get all our motivation and hope from the fans around us,” Norton said.
“So, to be in South Africa was really special but then to go abroad and almost be put in a pool of death and our backs against the wall and then come out with a trophy on top, that definitely ranks a bit higher.
“I owe a lot to cricket because it taught me a lot that I can use in rugby and without cricket I don't think I'll be in the position I'm in today. I'm really grateful for the opportunities I've been given with both of them but I definitely think winning the U20 Championship for the first time in 13 years in a different country was really, really special and like I said in that post match interview, it was the greatest day of my life.
Junior Springboks had the benefit of structured international preparation leading into the U20 Championship, thanks to their involvement in the new SANZAAR U20 Rugby Championship.
Norton says facing high-quality opposition like New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina before heading to Italy played a crucial role in their title success.
He believes that game-time and cohesion gave South Africa the edge when it mattered most.
"The most important thing for us was preparation and game time. We had a tour in Georgia, we came back, we played against the Bulls, we played against Hamiltons, we played the TRC and then we played two games against the Kenyan Men's side before going to a World Cup,” he added.
“So, we had so much time to work on our combinations and our culture and trust off the field, I think as South Africans, if we can trust each other, we know what the guy's gone through, we know his background and we know who he is as a person. I think that can really influence how you play on the field especially when it gets to tough times and you have your back against the wall.
“So, I think almost in getting our combinations right and making sure that we can grow our culture and just the people around us, I think that was the most important thing for us to get the opportunity to win the World Cup."
