Who’s Riley Norton?
South Africa’s Riley Norton is a dual-sport athlete who has made headlines in each cricket and rugby. The athlete starring within the 2024 ICC U19 Cricket World Cup has gone on to captain South Africa to the ultimate of the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship.
Norton first featured on the nationwide setup in the course of the 2024 ICC Beneath-19 Cricket World Cup hosted in South Africa. Only a 12 months later, he’s now making ready to guide the Junior Springboks in a World Rugby U20 Championship last towards New Zealand in Italy. Whereas lots of his cricket colleagues, akin to Kwena Maphaka and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, progressed into skilled cricket, Norton went on to signify his nation in a unique sport, rugby.
Riley Norton stars in U19 Cricket World Cup
In eight Youth ODIs, the all-rounder has picked 13 wickets and scored 116 runs at a median of 38.67. Through the U19 World Cup, he was one in every of South Africa’s finest all-rounders, choosing up 11 wickets at a median of 18.36 and scoring 50 runs throughout three innings, being dismissed simply as soon as. His finest efficiency got here towards Sri Lanka, the place he hammered an unbeaten 41 and completed with a spell of 4/28, serving to South Africa safe a vital win en path to the semifinals.
Regardless of this success, Norton hasn’t performed aggressive cricket for the reason that World Cup. As a substitute, he has picked up rugby. Enrolling at Stellenbosch College, he joined Maties Rugby, persevering with a household custom as his father, Chris Norton, performed for a similar membership. He’s at the moment pursuing a B.Com diploma in Funding Administration whereas captaining South Africa’s U20 aspect.
Riley Norton’s efficiency in 2025 U20 Rugby World Cup
Norton’s captaincy within the 2025 U20 Rugby World Cup has been good. South Africa defeated Australia (73-17), outplayed defending champions England (32-22), and toppled Scotland (73-14) within the group stage. Within the semifinal, they outclassed Argentina 48-24, securing a spot within the last towards arch-rivals New Zealand on the Stadio Mario Battaglini in Rovigo on July 20. Notably, he has earned comparisons to Rudie van Vuuren of Namibia, who famously performed in each the Cricket and Rugby World Cups in 2003.
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