After representing South Africa in the 2024 ICC Under-19 World Cup, Riley Norton has now led South Africa to the final of the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship.
Who is Riley Norton?
Norton had debuted for South Africa in U19 ODIs in a tri-nation tournament at home, also featuring India and Afghanistan, just before they hosted the 2024 Under-19 World Cup – the tournament that marked the rise of future superstars like Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Kwena Maphaka.
Norton picked up 11 wickets in the World Cup (only Maphaka had more among his teammates) at only 18.36 apiece. He also batted thrice and was dismissed only once, which gave him a batting average of 50 (behind only Pretorius and Dewan Marais).
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This included an unbeaten 41 against Sri Lanka to lift the hosts from 133-8 to 232-8. Not content, he picked up 4-28 to rout the Sri Lankans for 113 as South Africa stormed into the semi-finals.
Though eligible (he was barely 18 at the time of the World Cup), Norton has not played for South Africa U19 – or any form of professional domestic cricket – since then. From eight Youth ODIs, his record stands at 116 runs at 38.67 and 13 wickets at 22.23. However, he has carved a niche for himself in another sport.
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From cricket to rugby
Norton is leading South Africa in the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship, in Italy. There, South Africa qualified into the final for the third time (they had won in 2012 and finished runners-up in 2014). It is already a remarkable achievement, given that they have made it to the top four a world record 13 times but have mostly been unable to break into the top.
In the 2025 edition, South Africa beat Australia 73-17, defending champions England 32-22, and Scotland 73-14 to top the group stage and storm into the semi-final, where they beat Argentina 48-24. There, they will face New Zealand at the Stadio Mario Battaglini in Rovigo on July 20.
International cricketers have played international rugby in the past, but representing a nation at both World Cups is unusual. Rudie van Vuuren of Namibia had done that at senior level, that too in the same year, in 2003. He had also played in the 1999 rugby World Cup.
