The 19-year-old, who represented South Africa at the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup just last year, captained the Baby Boks to a hard-fought 23-15 win over New Zealand in the 2025 final, securing the nation’s second U20 title and their first since 2012.
From Protea to Springbok
Norton’s sporting journey is remarkable. A standout all-rounder during South Africa’s U19 Cricket World Cup campaign—where he claimed 11 wickets and scored 50 runs—he made the bold decision to prioritise rugby in 2024. It’s a switch that’s paid off in spectacular fashion.
Following in the footsteps of his father, Chris Norton—a Maties Rugby stalwart between 1991 and 2003—Riley joined Stellenbosch University this year, enrolling in a B.Com in Investment Management while playing for the storied Maties Rugby Club.
Dominant Captain, Relentless Team
As captain of the Junior Boks, Norton’s leadership came to the fore throughout the tournament. South Africa swept through the group stage with emphatic wins over Australia (73-17), defending champions England (32-22), and Scotland (73-14). A powerful semifinal showing against Argentina (48-24) set up the final clash against New Zealand.
Norton credited the team’s physicality and national pride for their dominant display.
“We had to show up physically. That’s our DNA,” he told SA Rugby Magazine. “The set-phase, the maul, the scrum, the hits – the guys did that for 80 minutes. I’m so proud to be South African, and we couldn’t have done it without the unbelievable support back home.”
He also praised flyhalf Vusi Moyo, whose pinpoint kicking kept South Africa on the front foot throughout the tournament.
A Rarity in Modern Sport
In an era of increasing early specialisation, Norton’s rise as a two-sport athlete draws comparisons to Namibian great Rudie van Vuuren—who represented his country at both the Cricket and Rugby World Cups. Whether Norton will return to cricket remains to be seen, but for now, he’s etched his name into South African rugby history.
With the spotlight firmly on him, Riley Norton is proving that versatility and heart still matter in the world of elite sport.