Ten teams will be doing battle from Saturday 30 April to Monday 2 May in the Varsity 7s rugby tournament at Villager Rugby Club. On the eve of their first clashes, they’ll be addressed by Garreth McLellan, or as most South Africans know him – Soldierboy.
On Friday 29 April, Steers Brand Ambassador, Garreth McLellan will be the evening’s speaker at the official welcome dinner at Garden Court, Nelson Mandela Bay Boulevard.
McLellan’s professional sporting career began at the age of 19, playing flank for Crusaders Rugby Club in Durban. In 2007 the Natal Rugby Union selected him for a program that required he change from flank to hooker, with promise of a Natal Sharks rugby contract. One of the requirements was that he increased his fitness levels.
Spending time with the Shark’s fitness coach, Jason Vorster, at the time also South Africa’s leading MMA coach, who used MMA as a form of training, it became clear to Jason that McLellan had a natural ability and he was encouraged pursue this direction.
McLellan agreed to an amateur fight and was hooked. He completed his amateur career undefeated with a 10-0 fight record. In 2008, after turning professional, McLellan won his first pro fight for Fight Club against JP Kruger. He then made the move to Johannesburg to further his career by joining South Africa’s top MMA gym, Fight Fit Militia (FFM).
After a tough beginning, with the focus to rebuild and redefine himself, in 2009 McLellan started fighting for the Extreme Fight Championships (EFC). He became the first EFC Middleweight champion by defeating Jacques Joubert.
In April 2015 McLellan made his debut against Bartoz Fabinski in Krakow, Poland but he unfortunately lost via decision. October 2015 gave McLellan another opportunity to represent his country in Dublin, Ireland against American native Bubba Bush. McLellan won the bout by TKO in the third round and made him the first South African-based athlete in history to win at the UFC. McLellan will be competing again on May 8th in Rotterdam against Swede Magnus Cedenblad.
Catch South Africa’s star UFC fighter at the Varsity 7s this weekend at Villager Rugby Club.
