Proteas must be green with envy, as multi-talented Riley Norton shines for Baby Boks
Multi-talented Riley Norton, who led the SA Under-20 rugby team to victory in the 2025 World Rugby Under-20 Championship also previously excelled in cricket at the Under-19 Cricket World Cup last year. Picture: World Rugby
Image: World Rugby
Cricket SA (CSA) and the SA Rugby Union (SARU) may have a battle on their hands, and that will be persuading phenomenal talent Riley Norton to choose either cricket or rugby. The only problem is, the youngster has already made up his mind.
Norton skippered the SA Under-20 rugby team as the side won the 2025 World Rugby Under-20 Championship over the weekend.
It was not the first taste of international success for the young lock, as he was also part of the SA Under-19 Cricket World Cup last year, which made it to the semi-finals of the tournament.
On the cricket field, Norton is a fast-bowling all-rounder and excelled at the 2024 Under-19 Cricket World Cup with 11 wickets and a batting average of 50 coming in down the order.
Norton’s Journey: From Cricket to Rugby Glory
Since then, though, Norton has focussed solely on rugby as he hasn’t played any competitive cricket since that World Cup. He has also signed a contract with Western Province Rugby.
Norton is just the third South African in the last decade to earn SA Schools colours in both cricket and rugby and the 15th overall.
After winning the World Rugby Under-20 Championship, Norton said: “I’m quite emotional,” he said. “The amount of work we put in after a tough Rugby Championship, I’m just so proud of the players and the coaching staff. I just can’t put it into words. This has been the greatest month of my life.”
Norton Praises Team Efforts and Embraces Rugby Passion
As a member of the forwards, Norton praised the efforts of his team.
“That’s where South Africans get our energy from, our DNA – the scrums, the mauls, the tackles – and Vusi Moyo was so good with the boot.
“We never felt pressure. A bit of nerves, but that’s a good thing. We couldn’t have done it without our fans cheering us on back home. I’m so proud to be South African. This is why we play the game, for moments and days like this.”
It seems then that CSA have already lost Norton’s talents to rugby, and their loss will certainly be the Springboks’ gain.