Story by Sofia Abrahams, Raven Report correspondent in Prague.
From Cape Town to Czech Republic: A Rugby Adventure
A South African rugby player finds himself in a small town tucked away in the so-called heart of Europe. Twenty-one-year-old Jeandre Overmeyer didn’t know much about the Czech Republic before boarding a plane three weeks ago. All he knew were fragments — it was somewhere in Europe, rugby that runs a little slower than back home, and a friendly rumour that after a match, beers tend to appear… which, he laughs, turned out to be mostly true.
Since then, those vague impressions have become something real. He grew up in Bishop Lavis, a Cape Flats suburb known for its socio-economic challenges, but its narrative is rapidly changing with the emergence of several future sporting star inspirations like Jeandre and Kyle Zinn.
Jeandre Overmeyer (4th from right)
Dre_8, as Jeandre is known on his socials’ journey from Lavis gives every step, and side-step he takes on the rugby field a little more weight, knowing that Lavis, Cape Town and the world is watching. Dre plays in the number 8 position but says he is comfortable in other positions as well.
After landing in Prague, he headed straight to Zlín (a 3-hour drive), and barely had time to think about anything before playing his first game four days later. He came for rugby, that was always the mission, and everything else simply started falling into place. “The people here are very nice and welcoming,” he says, and it’s clear from the way he keeps coming back to it that he really means it. Overall, he seems to be settling in fine.
Food, for example, hasn’t been a problem. His favourite one? The kebab box — something he laughs about, but also something that has become his go-to meal. It’s everywhere, quick, satisfying.
Traditional Czech food is still on the list. He’s heard about it, knows the reputation, and is keen to try it. That won’t be a problem for long — the country’s most famous dishes are never far away, especially in a smaller town like Zlin (pronounced Zleen), where finding them becomes as easy as finding a pint of cold beer. The Czech word for beer is pivo btw. And, yes, the South African braai lingers somewhere in the background but for now, he leans into the change.
Where it really began
He first picked up rugby in Grade 7. Back then, it wasn’t love yet, but that changed when he got to Hermanus High, where something just clicked.
He didn’t make the team at first. “I’m a very competitive person,” he says. But after 12 months of hard work on and off the field he made it.
From there, things started to build. A nomination to the Grant Khomo team. Then Covid hit and everything stopped. For Jeandre, however, lockdown meant time. Time to get bigger, stronger, faster. He started taking the gym seriously in Grade 11. Not just for performance, but presence. “I wanted to look threatening on the field.” A contrast, because off the field he’s grounded, always smiling and makes conversation feel natural.
Then came Craven Week, one of the biggest stages in South African school rugby. That’s where the comparison happened for him — where he saw himself against the best. Soon after, he received a bursary to North-West University, where winning the Young Guns tournament was a first big step forward, first major achievement after school.
And then, just as things were lining up again, they didn’t. An ankle injury kept him out after he returned home. This was an obvious frustration for Jeandre. But sometimes the path doesn’t close — it redirects. “God opened this door for me.” An agency. An opportunity. And suddenly, Czech Republic. Jeandre is in the Czech Republic with two other players, Bradley Saptou Luiters, from Knysna and Jandre van Zyl, from Pretoria. “My agent arranged this 3-month stint when it became known that the Czech Republic are looking to evaluate the development of the sport in the country.”
On Czech rugby
“There’s a lot of potential here,” he says. But he’s honest about it too — the structure, the understanding of the game, even officiating, there’s room to improve. At the same time, it’s doing something important for him personally. It’s teaching him patience. Apparently on the field that hasn’t always come naturally but here, it has to.
And then there’s the team. For a team that doesn’t have the biggest numbers, he notices the effort and consistency. The fact that people show up. “I love my boys,” he says.
When the conversation turns to advice, Jeandre speaks plainly and from the heart.
For parents: Start early. Get kids into a good rugby system. Introduce the gym sooner rather than later.
For the boys: Have faith — in your ability, in God. Don’t doubt yourself. And don’t be scared.
“You can’t be scared on a rugby field.” And then the part he repeats is simple: “Work. Work. Constantly work.”
For young players back home in South Africa
He knows what they'll face — criticism from all sides. “It’s everywhere in rugby,” he says. “Coaches telling you you’re not good enough, people doubting you, noise from all directions. The key isn’t to ignore it completely. The key is to use it. Take what matters and turn it into fuel. Keep the right people close, the ones who actually support you, like friends and family, and lean on them when it counts. I go back to Lavis often, the place has a special place in my heart and it is my roots. I have many friends and family who still live there. I do want to say that there is enormous raw talent in Bishop Lavis in all disciplines of sport and there will be a lot more stars coming out of the area in the future, that’s for sure!”
What's next?
He smiles but doesn’t say much. Something big is coming, something important. But for now, it stays private. “When it’s finalized, when it’s real, I'll let it go out there.” Stay tuned to The Raven Report.
Some of the sights in Zlin and Prague
Would he come back to the Czech Republic?
“There is something special about being here at this stage when Czech rugby is still developing. I’ll be watching to see how it grows, so coming back in a few years is definitely on the cards. I’ve also already built friendships I want to keep. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll visit with my own future family.”
On South Africa
If you ask him what Czech visitors shouldn’t miss in South Africa, his answer comes without hesitation. Braai, meat, fire. Something he’s convinced Czech people would love because in that way, the cultures aren’t so different after all. And then the landscape — Table Mountain, Hermanus and surely the beaches... Something the Czech Republic, for all its historic charm, simply does not have in the same way. When he talks about South Africa, it always comes back to the same things. The vibe, the people, the openness.
I tell him I’m coming to South Africa in September. “If I wanted to explore Bishop Lavis, would you recommend it or what shouldn’t I miss?”, I ask.
Dre_8 interviewed by Sofia Abrahams
“I’d start you off with Hermanus where I now live, its more scenic and you might even get to see a whale or two. But if you want to experience something deeper, somewhere less polished, more real and with a lot of soul, Bishop Lavis would be on the tour. It will definitely be an unforgettable experience. And yes, of-course I’ll be your guide.”
He laughs when the conversation turns back to beer, knowing full well he’s speaking to Czechs, people who take pride in having some of the best beer in the world. He agrees, easily. Radegast and Pilsner Urquell, the ultimate classic. But South Africa probably has its own answer.
From our conversation, it’s clear that Jeandre’s love for rugby goes far beyond the game itself — it’s about growth, community, and leaving a mark wherever he goes. But for now, he’s focused on helping Czech rugby develop and making the most of every moment on the field in Zlín.
Jeandre, thank you for showing us the heart of South Africa and good luck for the future!
Fun fact about Zlin
Zlín is a city in the southeastern Czech Republic, renowned as the industrial, shoe-making centre established by the Baťa company in the early 20th century. And yes, the famous South African school shoe brand, Bata Toughees, originated from the Bat’a Company.
