MAART TO PUT PEDAL TO THE METAL V LIONS

WHEN the Stormers host the Lions in the United Rugby Championship at Cape Town Stadium at 3.30pm on Saturday, one of the most compelling players will be wearing blue and white on the wing.

Dylan Maart’s rise has been anything but conventional – a journey that began not in elite academies, but on taxis ranks, working as a gaatjie to help put food to the table in his youth and later a warehouse worker.

Maart wysed: “If I think of where I was a year ago to where I am now, I never thought I’d have the opportunity to play at the Stormers, so I’m very grateful and excited.”

Now 29, Maart is one of the Stormers’ ysters and a reminder that rugby dreams do not always follow a straight line.

Before professional contracts and packed stadiums, he says the only way he could get to school was to work as a gaatjie, later clocking shifts as a warehouse worker at a bottling plant.

Many nights at home were marked by hunger, and rugby took a back seat after primary school as survival came first.

Since quitting his day job two years ago and becoming a full-time professional at Griquas, the tries have flowed for the Wellington-born speedster, and he has popped up on the “big time” radar.

After Maart helped Griquas to the Currie Cup title last year, the Stormers were quick to invite him to the Kaap on a loan deal.

Saturday's clash against the Lions will be his first appearance at Cape Town Stadium – another milestone in what he describes as a dream run.

Maart added: “The last few weeks have been like a dream. I made my debut, played overseas for the first time, and we won our games.

“I’m very excited to play my first game at Cape Town Stadium.”

URC fixtures:

Friday: Leinster v Ulster, Cardiff v Scarlets (both 9.45pm)

Saturday: Benetton v Zebre (4pm), Glasgow v Edinburgh (5pm), Sharks v Bulls (6pm), Ospreys v Munster (7.30pm), Dragons v Connacht (9.45pm)