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Who is Riley Norton? South Africa's U19 all-rounder and U20 Rugby World Cup finalist

Who is Riley Norton? South Africa's U19 all-rounder and U20 Rugby World Cup finalist

India Today18-07-2025
Barely a year after representing South Africa in the 2024 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, Riley Norton has now led the national team to the final of the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy. Norton captained South Africa to a dominant 48-24 victory over Argentina in the semifinal on Tuesday, July 15, underlining his credentials as a rare dual-sport talent capable of excelling at the highest levels in both cricket and rugby.advertisementNorton was one of the standout players in the U19 Cricket World Cup, playing alongside the likes of Kwena Maphaka and Lhuan-dre Pretorius. While Maphaka and Pretorius have since gone on to make their senior international debuts for the Proteas, Norton has taken a different path, now finding himself at the centre of South African rugby's youth resurgence.His all-round cricketing skills were on display during the World Cup, where he picked up 11 wickets at an impressive average of 18.36. He was also effective with the bat, averaging 50 after being dismissed only once in the tournament. His best all-round performance came against Sri Lanka, where he scored an unbeaten 41 to steer South Africa to a respectable first-innings total before picking up four wickets to help bundle out the opposition for just 113. That win helped South Africa reach the semifinals of the competition.
Norton's switch to rugby has been equally impactful. Leading the team in a global competition and now reaching the final signals his growing reputation in the sport. The 20-year-old's leadership and athletic versatility have drawn comparisons with other rare dual-sport athletes. His rise recalls names like Rudie van Vuuren of Namibia, who famously played in the 1999 Rugby World Cup and later dismissed Sachin Tendulkar during the 2003 Cricket World Cup.South Africa will now prepare to face the final hurdle in Italy, with Norton at the helm in what could be a defining moment for a player who has already worn national colours in two sports at the junior level. His journey is quickly becoming one of the most fascinating sporting stories to emerge from South Africa in recent years.- Ends
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