About
Enrico Grootboom
I believe in living everyday as if it's your last day. Don't worry about the passed. Focus on the future, it's still coming which means you can change it to the way you want it.
The Founder and director of the Gelvandale Rugby Academy
Autobiography of Enrico Grootboom, the founder of the Gelvandale Rugby Academy
Enrico Grootboom – Biography
Enrico Grootboom grew up in Uitenhage and attended St. Joseph Primary School, where his rugby journey began at the age of nine. During that time, players competed based on weight categories rather than age groups, which allowed him to participate in provincial rugby from Standard 1 until he matriculated at Uitenhage High. It was a period marked by segregation until 1993, when they finally had the opportunity to play with everyone, regardless of race.
Enrico’s passion for rugby blossomed over the years. Growing up in a small town, rugby became a safe haven for him. After school, he moved to Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth, to play for the PE Harlequins Rugby Club. From there, he started playing for the Eastern Province Rugby and later joined Karoo (also known as Eastern Province Country and District). Enrico then went to Pretoria, where he had stints with the Raiders Rugby Club and the Blue Bulls.
Rugby had a profound impact on Enrico's life, opening many doors that might have otherwise remained closed. This passion led him to transition into coaching. In 2005, Enrico moved back to Gqeberha. From 2015 to 2016, he assisted in coaching at the PE Harlequins, where he was responsible for all junior rugby. Despite fighting relegation, they went on to play in the finals and won the Super 12 tournament. He then went on to coach the Police Rugby Club with Luke Watson and Tertius Douw in 2017 and 2018, where they also performed well in the league and reached the semi-finals of the Super 12 tournament.
Motivated by his experiences, Enrico dedicated himself to giving back to his community. He wanted to show young people that opportunities exist regardless of their background or circumstances. Driven by a passion for rugby and a strong desire to keep young boys in the community out of gangsterism and off the streets, Grootboom founded the Gelvandale Rugby Academy in 2015 and registered it with the Eastern Province Rugby in 2019.
Since its inception, the Academy has helped many young athletes achieve their dreams, with over 109 receiving scholarships to play for top schools and teams both locally and abroad. Players from the Academy have gone on to join the Leopards, Griffons, Blue Bulls, Lions, Sharks, Cheetahs as well as the Eastern Province Rugby. Some of the senior players have received international contracts from Germany, Scotland and Spain. Not all youth in our communities are lost to crime, and the Gelvandale Rugby Academy stands as a testament to that.
In addition to his work with the Academy, Enrico is Eastern Province’s U/16 Girls Rugby Coach and the assistant coach for the 7s rugby team in 2024. Grootboom is also a motivational speaker, a qualified Level 2 coach, Boksmart certified, and a qualified rugby medic and nutritionist.
As a husband and father of four wonderful children, Enrico attributes his work and accomplishments to his family and the unwavering support they have shown him throughout his journey.
Off the field, Enrico is actively involved in community initiatives focused on assisting young people in various aspects of their lives, ensuring they have the support and resources needed to succeed. Seeing young people overcome their challenges and succeed despite difficult circumstances is what keeps him going.