Seven years ago, a then 23-year-old Pierre Schoeman decided to embark upon a voyage that was to change his life irrevocably.
By swapping South Africa for Scotland, and the sky blue of Bulls for the navy of Edinburgh Rugby, the prop set himself on a course that has resulted in what he described as ‘the pinnacle’ of his career: selection for the British & Irish Lions squad.
And despite trying to pre-empt what it might feel like, the man born in Nelspruit, who was watching the official announcement at his home in Midlothian alongside wife Charissa, could not stop his emotions briefly getting the better of him when Ieuan Evans said his name.
“I was bracing myself to be ready to deal with it if my name was read out, but it was still exceptional and my wife and I shared some tears,” Schoeman told Scotland Rugby News.
“No one prepares you for such great moments. For me personally, it is my faith and having a great wife that has carried me through the whole time.”
Scoring against Scotland
Growing up, Schoeman attended Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool - Afrikaans High School for Boys, also known as Affies – in Pretoria, an educational establishment which boasts alumni such as 2007 Rugby World Cup winning scrum-half Fourie du Preez and cricketing legend AB de Villiers.
In Schoeman, Affies had another international rugby player in its midst – though at the time, his junior career appeared to be paving the way for an eventual Springbok bow.
He went on to play for South Africa U18s, and in 2014, represented South Africa U20s at the IRB Junior World Championship, where he scored against Scotland U20s in his side’s 61-5 win.
Back then, Schoeman’s plan was to one day represent the country of his birth having made his Bulls debut in the same year too.
“I am not going to lie; I wanted to be a Springbok. That is how I saw my career going from when I played in the Junior World Cup in 2014,” he told Rugby World.
“In that Junior World Cup, we played against Scotland in our first game.
“I scored a try in a team with Jesse Kriel and Handré Pollard.
“If you told me then that seven years later I would be playing against them for Scotland, I would have thought you were crazy.
“Life is funny. You cannot predict anything. You just do not know what is in store.”
The game Schoeman refers to was Scotland’s 30-15 defeat at Murrayfield in the 2021 Autumn Nations Series.
It was just his third international appearance, having made his Scottish debut three weeks earlier against Tonga – a match in which he scored his first international try – following the completion of his three-year residency.
Write it down and tick it off
Not only has Schoeman always been a man to set targets, but he writes them down too, creating a physical reminder of what he wants to achieve, no matter how big or small.
"If you do not firmly write down your goals, even how many glasses of water you must drink, how many push-ups you must do, then you will not believe it,” he told BBC Scotland in 2018.
It is a technique that has served him well, as he can now tick the box he wanted to the most.
“I made a decision to write it down as a goal for me, that the next Lions tour, I have to be on it,” he said on the day of his selection.
“I have worked hard and sacrificed a lot to be in the squad now.”
Charissa the “rock”
Schoeman’s journey is one he could not have taken without the love and support of his wife, who has lived and breathed every step along the way with him.
“She has put a lot of effort into this too,” he explained.
“We took this journey like two Vikings, leaving South Africa for Scotland, burning the ships and making Edinburgh and Scotland our home.
“I always say that my name, Pierre, means rock or boulder in French, but it is my wife who is the strong boulder. She is the rock of our household and me playing for the Lions is a dream we both believed in.”
Partner in crime and Lions memories
Schoeman is part of an eight-strong Scottish contingent in Andy Farrell’s squad and will be joined by Edinburgh teammate, good friend and fellow South African born Duhan Van der Merwe – who will be a two-time tourist - on the Tour Down Under.
The pair have forged a strong relationship with one another, having trodden similar paths to get to where they are, even setting up their own whisky company called Against the Grain together, and Schoeman is thrilled to be sharing the experience with the 29-year-old winger.
“It will be great having him there,” he said. "We have good banter, a great relationship on and off the field and like to take the mickey out of each other.
“He has told me Lions tours are intense and there is pressure on you to get it right in training. You compete for everything.”
And watching Van der Merwe and Rory Sutherland – who played for Edinburgh from 2014 to 2021- get selected for the 2021 Lions Tour to South Africa was the exact moment Schoeman set himself the goal of emulating the feat at the earliest opportunity.
“Probably four years ago when it was Duhan’s first time, and Suz’s [Rory Sutherland] – a good friend of mine – as well,” recalled Schoeman to Scrum Magazine when asked about when his Lions ambitions first came to the boil.
“I just thought ‘go for Scotland but surely this has to be a dream’.
“If you do not have a dream, then I do not think you will give your best every day to get better and just to add any value you can in abundance.”
The 2009 Tour to South Africa – which the hosts won 2-1 - particularly stands out among his Lions memories.
“I have a very fond memory of when they toured South Africa and Ugo Monye scored that great interception try in the third Test,” he added.
“The army, the red sea, and the way the Lions stepped up and were not afraid. Fearless Lions – that came to mind.”
With his seat on the plane to Australia secured, Schoeman is now in the position to make more Lions memories. For someone who is so relentless at ticking off his goals, it would be a brave person to bet against him doing just that.
