Scrumhalf Imad Khan is relishing the opportunity to continue his development as DHL Western Province make their return to DHL Stadium in the Carling Currie Cup this Saturday.
The 20-year-old is turning heads in this year’s edition of rugby’s oldest competition as he blossoms within a youthful DHL Western Province squad. Having made his senior debut for the DHL Stormers in 2023, Khan’s journey has been a whirlwind of rapid progression and eye-catching performances.
Khan’s flair for attack, honed through his time with the DHL Western Province juniors and Junior Springboks, has made him a perfect fit for the team’s dynamic style of play.
With four successive starts leading up to Saturday’s Round Five Carling Currie Cup clash against the NovaVit Griffons at DHL Stadium, Khan is seizing every opportunity to hone his craft in the DHL Western Province No.9 jersey.
“The Carling Currie Cup is a very special competition and it’s always a privilege to be playing in it,” Khan said. “Not everyone gets such opportunities at senior level, so I’m seizing those opportunities and lessons with both hands every week.”
Khan’s development has been tested against formidable opposition this season. His appearances include a North-South clash against the Vodacom Bulls, a face-off with defending Carling Currie Cup champions Toyota Cheetahs, a 10-try rout of the NovaVit Griffons, and a recent rematch against the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
“The competition itself has so much history and all of our games have been against quality teams,” Khan said. “You’re playing against a few Springboks in teams like the Vodacom Bulls, so I’m trying to learn as much as I can.”
Khan’s hard work paid off spectacularly when he scored his first Carling Currie Cup try against the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
“The bounce of the ball could’ve gone either way, but scoring my first try in the Carling Currie Cup is special,” he added. “It really was a happy moment for me and a great experience at this top level of rugby.”
Learning from seasoned scrumhalves within the ranks of the DHL Stormers and DHL Western Province, Khan is inspired by teammates Herschel Jantjies, Paul de Wet, Stefan Ungerer, and Labib Kannemeyer.
“I feed off and learn from each player about any part of my game that I can improve on,” he explained. “The kicking from the base and exiting as a No. 9 has developed exponentially.
“It’s become quite an important tool in a scrumhalf’s arsenal, and the DHL Western Province coaching staff are committing a lot of time and effort into this part of my game.”
Khan’s commitment to mastering the fundamentals is unwavering: “There is quite a bit of satisfaction to see all that practice and hard work pay off in a match, but it’s still a work in progress and there’s always room for improvement, especially as I advance in my career.”
Surrounded by fellow promising youngsters like Divan Fuller and Jonathan Roche, Khan is part of a cohort fast-tracked by the DHL Western Province coaches to gain exposure and build depth for the DHL Stormers. The rigorous campaign in the Carling Currie Cup serves as a crucible for Khan’s development.
“The only way you as a player improve is by being placed in real match situations,” Khan emphasised. “You can practice and talk the game as much as you want, but the only way you learn and get better is if you’re in those tough situations, experiencing real intensity against the likes of the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
“These past few weeks I’ve found myself improving, playing under pressure and at a higher level. It’s been a very beneficial campaign so far, learning as much as possible.
“As a youngster playing in the Carling Currie Cup, it is tough and you are going to take a couple of knocks here and there, but it’s all about learning from it and progressing.”
Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
