Michael Brink

Brink was born in Pretoria, but grew up in East London to represent the Border Bulldogs in youth competitions. He represented them at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week held in Johannesburg in 2012, scoring two tries in their match against the Limpopo Blue Bulls in a 24–19 victory.[2] In 2013, he played at the Under-18 Academy Week tournament, scoring tries against Limpopo[3] and the Blue Falcons[4] and scored 19 points with the boot to achieve a personal points haul of 29 points, the joint-sixth highest at the tournament.[5]

He again represented the Border Under-18 side in 2014, this time at the premier South African high school competition, the Under-18 Craven Week held in Middelburg. He scored a hat-trick of tries in their match against Limpopo in a 78–17 win,[6] which also meant he scored against the same opponents in three tournaments running. He also scored a try in a 55–26 win over Griquas[7] to end the tournament with four tries to his name, just one behind four players that top-scored with five tries apiece.[8]

After school, Brink moved to Port Elizabeth to join the Eastern Province Kings academy. He was included in the Eastern Province U19 squad that participated in Group A of the 2015 Under-19 Provincial Championship. He started matches in a variety of positions – fly-half, inside centre and fullback – during the season, and was also the main kicker for the team, eventually scoring 115 points, second only to Western Province's Tiaan Swanepoel.[9] Brink appeared in ten of their twelve matches during the regular season, scoring one try in a 26–7 win over Sharks U19,[10] to help them to eleven victories to qualify for a home semi-final. He kicked 16 points (two conversions and four penalties) in a 31–15 victory over Free State U19 in the semi-final[11] and his boot also proved crucial in the final, as he kicked two penalties and two conversions in a 25–23 victory[12] to help Eastern Province win the Under-19 Provincial Championship for the first time in their history.[13]

Serious financial problems at the Eastern Province Kings at the end of the 2015 season saw a number of first team regulars leave the union[14] and Brink was among a number of youngsters that were promoted to the squad that competed in the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series.[15] He was named in the starting lineup for their first match of the season against the SWD Eagles,[16] and kicked two conversions for the Kings in a 14–37 defeat.[17]

In March 2016, Brink was included in a training squad for the South Africa Under-20 squad prior to the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship,[18] but he was not included in a reduced provisional announced squad a week later.[19]