Being one of the main school rugby factories in the Eastern Cape, Dale College products are expected to be excellent rugby players as soon as they walk.
Cheetahs flyer Sibahle "Rabz" Maxwane isn't one of those and, frankly, rugby was a secondary pastime for him.
He's not the first and won't be the last rugby player who'll swap the round ball for the oval one.
The conversion though for the 23-year-old Pro14 top try scorer with eight touchdowns was so late, it was nearly posthumous.
When he did take rugby seriously in his grade 11 year in 2012, he found himself playing first-team rugby at outside centre the following year
RELUCTANT RUGBY PLAYER
"I wouldn't say there was much effort from anyone or the need to be pushed into playing rugby. If I didn't make it in rugby, I would've given academics a fair shot or I would have tried out as a professional football player. I feel I was always better in soccer than I was in rugby. I just never paid much attention to it," Maxwane said.
"The lack of soccer where I went to school meant I had to take up rugby. I really think I was that good in soccer. Rugby wasn't the first choice but somehow it's worked out for me. My parents and my friends are proud of me though and what's helped is that I've always been disciplined."
Such was the impact he made as a goal-kicking midfield-back in a rather average Dale College side in 2013, mother Nomvume Maxwane's only child, who was born in Komani but grew up in King William's Town, made the Border Academy Week and he moved to Western Province.
The Under-18 Academy Week, which now runs concurrently with Craven Week, was a stand-alone tournament until three years ago.
Craven Week is also televised, meaning Academy Week players don't get the same kind of mileage.
But rugby scouts have wised up to the riches available at the subsidiary week.
Maxwane moved to Western Province after he matriculated and found himself at a union that habitually attracts SA Schools players. That's the cream of the Craven Week crop.
"A lot of things didn't go well at Western Province but I learnt a lot in terms of being a professional. When I was at Western Province the whole team was SA Schools and from a young age you always knew you had the upper hand if you played SA Schools. I didn't feel I was given a fair chance at the time so I had to play the patience game," Maxwane said.
"I do believe though everything happens for a reason and there's also the matter of timing."
PRETORIA AND BEYOND
The timing for Maxwane was good for him to move to Pretoria in 2016, where a wonderful stint with the University of Pretoria in the Varsity Cup saw him play Currie Cup and later Super Rugby for the Bulls.
Injuries and depth strength at the Bulls saw him sit on the periphery until the move to Bloemfontein materialised in mid-2017.
SA's judicial capital may not be the most glamorous place to jump-start a career but it's worked wonders for Maxwane. Ahead of the Pro14's resumption this weekend after a two-week Six Nations break, Maxwane said he's comfortable with having to prove himself each week.
"I've been given the freedom here and that's exactly what a player wants. I'm also really enjoying my time here. I've never had pressure to prove myself but I've always believed that I have to prove myself," Maxwane said.
"I've become comfortable in playing in different conditions, the rugby is very competitive. I've enjoyed playing in the tournament as a whole along with the travelling."
A MAN ON THE UP AND UP
• Sibahle Ndiphiwe Maxwane was the only Dalian in the Border Under-18 Academy Week side in 2013.
• He was part of UP-Tuks' 2017 Varsity Cup-winning team coached by current Bulls mentor Pote Human.
• He played the majority of his senior rugby at outside centre and was a popular player in high school...