Schoolboy sensation Markus Muller has opened up on meeting his idol at the Springboks’ alignment camp.
At just 18, Muller was one of two teenagers invited to Rassie Erasmus’ first alignment camp of 2026 – a clear sign of the long-term succession plan taking shape ahead of the next Rugby World Cup.
“Handré Pollard has always been my hero and it was really nice to meet him,” he said on the Behind the Ruck podcast.
“I had a teacher at school, Miss Myburgh, who has been at Paarl Gym for years. She also taught Handré and she knew I liked him a lot.
“So before inter-schools he sent me a message. I was shocked but then I knew she had said something to him. So yes, it was really nice to meet him.”
SCHOOLS WRAP: Grey College hammer Helpmekaar
His addition to the Bok squad and making his Stormers XXIII debut over the weekend, has only intensified the hype around him.
But for Muller, the call-up came completely out of the blue.
“I honestly didn’t expect it at all. I think none of us, who were in Georgia, did,” he said.
“I didn’t have the slightest idea what was going on. However, two days later we were all added to a WhatsApp group (for the) Springbok alignment camp. I couldn’t believe it.
“It only felt real to me the day when I arrived at the alignment camp.”
ALSO: Bulls, Stormers snap up brightest schoolboy 10s
Thrown into a group filled with World Cup winners, Muller admits the experience was surreal – but not intimidating.
“They were all extremely friendly. From management to players, all of them. They welcomed me very well. So, that was an incredible experience,” he said.
“It’s strange for me as these guys won the World Cup while I was in primary school, looking at them, and here I am, with them in a room.”
Photo: @Springboks/X
The post Markus waxes lyrical over Handré appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
