One Moment.
One Tackle.
One Dream Put on Hold.
Rustenburg rugby player Anver Harding is fighting to get back on the field after a devastating shoulder injury
Platinum Weekly koerant | Rustenburg – For most teenage boys, six months can feel like a lifetime. For 17-year-old Anver Hayden Harding, it means six months away from the rugby field he loves most.
The Bergsig Academy Grade 11 learner and proud member of the school’s 1st rugby team was living his dream when disaster struck during a rugby match in Potchefstroom on 1 May 2026. Moments after making a tackle, another player fell heavily onto Anver’s shoulder. The impact tore a ligament and instantly changed the course of his season.
What made the injury even more devastating was that Anver had already injured the same shoulder the week before. This time, however, the damage was severe. Today, while his teammates continue their season, Anver faces a long road to recovery. The family’s burden extends far beyond the physical injury. Medical treatment costs are expected to reach around R350,000, while available medical cover falls far short of what is needed.
For Anver, the hardest part has not been the pain. “It’s not being able to play rugby anymore,” he said.
Anyone who knows Anver knows rugby is more than a sport to him. It is where he found confidence, friendship, discipline and purpose. Whether training with his teammates or pulling on his jersey for Bergsig’s 1st team, rugby has always been part of his identity.
Despite the setback, Anver refuses to give up. His goal is simple: recover fully and return to the field next year. Through every doctor’s appointment, every setback and every difficult day, one person has remained by his side - his mother, Lizette Harding.
“Watching your child lose the thing he loves most is heartbreaking,” said Lizette. “But Anver is a fighter. We believe he will come back stronger, and we are grateful for every person supporting him on this journey.”
When he is not focused on his recovery, Anver enjoys computers, spending time with friends and dreaming about the day he can once again run onto a rugby field.
The Harding family is appealing to the Rustenburg community for support during this difficult chapter. Every contribution, no matter how small, helps ease the financial burden and brings Anver one step closer to recovery.
If you would like to help this young rugby player get back on his feet and back into the game he loves, please visit his Back-a-Buddy fundraising page and consider making a donation.
Photo: Bergsig Academy rugby player Anver Hayden Harding hopes to return to the field next year after a serious shoulder injury sidelined his promising season.
