Louis Schreuder wasn’t the only South African scrum-half smiling when it was announced at the end of February that he would be staying on at Bath for at least another year.
Bath legend Michael Claassens acts as Schreuder’s financial adviser through his role at Player Management company, Wasserman Rugby, and was equally as pleased that the numbers added up in what could be his client’s final pro deal.
“He is my financial adviser, he’s taking a lot of commission on everything!” joked Schreuder, who played alongside Claassens, below, for one Currie Cup season at the Sharks.
Just over a decade has passed since Claassens’ six-season stay at Bath came to an end, but 33-year-old Schreuder is still reminded of the former Springbok’s status as a fans’ favourite at The Rec. “He was a good player back in the day,” said Schreuder. “I’ve seen a few boys walking around town with Claassens on the back of their Bath shirts. I remind him often he is a legend of Bath.”
Without wishing to be unkind, Schreuder will have to play out of skin to earn such lofty status in what remains of his time at Bath, especially as regular starts are at a premium with Bath captain Ben Spencer commanding the No.9 jersey and in such brilliant form.
“He’s got me and Thomas (du Toit) and Juan Schoeman, so a few of the (ex)Sharks boys. He’s one of the best human beings I have ever met so I’m really happy to have him around. When I was making the move down from Newcastle he was one of the first person I spoke to about the club and he was very happy for me.”
Schreuder, the threetime Currie Cup winner, who has over 100 Super Rugby caps to his name following spells with The Stormers, Southern Kings and The Sharks, is comfortable with his role as scrum-half cover.
“I haven’t been in a position before where the guy ahead of me is also the captain as well. It makes it difficult when it comes to minutes and stuff like that,” he acknowledged. “But I have been involved in rugby long enough to know my role and what I need to do to get the team in the best position possible.
“Me and Ben have got a good relationship off the field as well and I think we respect each oth-er’s games and what we bring, with our different strengths and weaknesses, so it’s been all good.
“It’s a little bit different to starting, I am more in a closing role now where you need to manage the game and see where you are scoreboard-wise. I reckon experience helps a bit with that.”
With a nine-monthold child to look after, Schreuder and his wife plan to go back to South Africa at some point in the near future.
But, in the meantime, he is enjoying being at Bath, especially now that they’re in contention for silverware at the business end of the season. He said: “No disrespect to the Falcons but I was in an awkward position when Covid hit, I needed a decent job and they came calling. But I always knew it was going to be temporary and I wanted to play for one of the bigger clubs, a top six/top four club.
“Last year was a massive building year but this year we have really kicked on. This is the true part of the season now and, hopefully, we can put ourselves in a position to make the play-offs.”
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