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Bath captain's ingenuity earns him prestigious business award
Bath Rugby second row Gj Van Velze was today announced as the worthy recipient of this season’s first RPA Vodafone Business Gain Line Award.
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Created to support current and former players in their off-field business ventures, the Rugby Players Association (RPA) have recognised Van Velze’s efforts in setting up not one but two businesses when he was out of the game with long term injury.
In 2020, the South African born forward had to undergo shoulder surgery after a bad dislocation while playing for Worcester Warriors. That followed surgery for an arm fracture the year before.
The time out from rugby led to him creating his business, VanVelze and Smith, which designs and sells luxury boots and leather goods. For every pair of Chelsea boots sold, they provide a child in South Africa with a new pair of rugby boots.
To help fund this business and scheme, the now 35-year-old also created an online business specialising in abrasive and paint consumables, Big Dog Paints.
Congratulations to @GJvanVelze on being recognised for his hard work in the business arena, setting up for life after rugby while also making a difference for aspiring young players👏
He’ll also captain Bath against Sale this coming weekend 👊🏉@theRPA pic.twitter.com/TdCLW4VWbv
— Grant Constable (@GrantConstable) November 23, 2023
By creating the two companies, he has not only provided extra income for his family but also provided employment opportunities for other individuals, and of course, aims to also make a difference in South Africa.
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“Thank you for this award. It is the outcome of extensive effort and numerous mistakes made over the past six years,” said van Velze.
“These awards are significant as they offer rugby players a sense of stability in life and motivate them to consider their lives after rugby. My carcass is not getting any younger and the support from the rugby community has been amazing.”
Following GJ winning the @VodafoneUKBiz #GainLineAward, GJ’s Player Development Manager @MattGarvey5 had this to say about his success#ForOurPlayers pic.twitter.com/qaou9tbQdj
— The RPA (@theRPA) November 23, 2023
Awards and business aside, the big second-row is still very much a full time rugby player, and will feature against Sale Sharks on Friday night.
Bath coach Johann van Graan today named his matchday-23 for the Round 7 Gallagher Premiership clash, with van Velze starting in the second row and skippering the side.
Bath Rugby:
15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Ruaridh McConnochie, 13 Max Ojomoh, 12 Will Butt, 11 Matt Gallagher, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Jaco Coetzee, 7 Chris Cloete, 6 Ewan Richards, 5 GJ van Velze (c), 4 Josh McNally, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Niall Annett, 1 Thomas du Toit
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Replacements:
16 Tom Dunn, 17 Juan Schoeman (50), 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Fergus Lee-Warner, 20 Nahum Merigan, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Orlando Bailey, 23 Cameron Redpath
Sale Sharks:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Arron Reed, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr, 8. Dan du Preez, 7. Ben Curry (c), 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 5. Jonny Hill, 4. Cobus Wiese, 3. Nick Schonert, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1. Bevan Rodd.
Replacements:
16. Agustin Creevy, 17. Si McIntyre, 18. James Harper, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Sam Dugdale, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Sam James, 23. Tom O’Flaherty.
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
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