NRL: Roosters pluck South African talent from rugby

Australian rugby league has for some time eyed up the recruiting grounds of South African rugby and the latest fence-jumper is a deeply religious 18-year-old whose knowledge of league was what he saw on the internet.

But if the Sydney Roosters know what they are doing, JP du Plessis could become a trailblazer, the first of many South African teenagers to swap rugby union in their homeland for the NRL.

"When they [the Roosters] came over to me and said do you want to go and play league in Australia, at first I thought they were talking about AFL because I have never seen league before," du Plessis told The Australian. He will play for the Roosters under-20s side against South Sydney today but related how little he'd known about league: "I went on to Google and searched a few clips. I liked it a lot."

Du Plessis was a schoolboy star in South Africa. Super 14 was his next step and one of his coaches claimed he was a future Springbok. Then Sydney Roosters recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan came knocking. Credited with discovering Greg Inglis and Israel Folau among others, he was keen to tap into new markets in his search for talent.

"The first time I heard about league was when Peter O'Sullivan came over to me and said 'do you want to play'," du Plessis said. He sat down with his parents to weigh up the pros and cons of the offer. Although he attended boarding school more than 300km from the family home, this was something different. It meant packing up and moving to another country. Not only that, he would need to learn another sport.

"It was a massive decision," he said. "I felt I could always go back and play union in my life whenever I wanted to, but I will never get the opportunity to learn more about league again. When I saw the game, I reckon it was more my type of rugby - more attacking and running than union, which is more a kicking game, a more structured game.

His decision created a backlash in South Africa. Rugby league scouts were suddenly the enemy.

"They were pretty angry," du Plessis said. "It was pretty bad. The media reckon Australia is stealing the talent of union. But it was my decision. You can't blame Australia or anyone. There's a whole world out there and I want to experience other stuff. I left on a good note, so I reckon any time I want to go back and play union, they will allow me."

Du Plessis, who scored two tries with his first two touches against Atherton in the Roosters' opening trial last month, hasn't looked back. To help with the transition, he has moved into the home of former Wallabies and South African assistant coach Tim Lane on Sydney's northern beaches.

On the advice of O'Sullivan, du Plessis has also studied video of several current and former NRL stars, including Sonny Bill Williams, Greg Inglis and Johnathan Thurston. Teammates Liam Foran, Mitchell Pearce and Todd Carney have taken him under their wing. His goals for this season are modest.

For starters, he simply wants to learn the game which has prompted him to leave his family and friends in South Africa.

"It's obviously always a goal to play top grade," said du Plessis in The Australian. "If it's not, you shouldn't even play." The Roosters have signed another South African teenager and more are expected to make the switch. Melbourne officials also plan forays into South Africa this year.

"If I can be successful in the decision I made I can definitely convince more players to convert over to league," du Plessis said. "I'm the first guy to come from school and play league from South Africa. I'm taking the first step, so hopefully more will follow."