Czech Teen Kvido Zak Leaves Home at 16 to Play Rugby at Glenwood High School in Durban
- A 16-year-old Czech rugby player left his family behind to spend four months at a Durban school, choosing Glenwood High School over 2 other KwaZulu-Natal options
- Kvido Zak said it was not the school’s rugby results that drew him in, but the passion and tradition he saw in the programme
- The teenager joined Gibson House boarding and the Cambridge International programme, describing the experience as life-changing
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Source: Facebook
A Czech teenager packed up his life and travelled thousands of kilometres to South Africa, chasing a dream he had carried since childhood. Kvido Zak, 16, spent 4 months at Glenwood High School in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, as an international student in 2025.
The school shared his story on Facebook on 1 September 2026. Kvido wrote that he had dreamed of playing rugby overseas from a young age.
When the opportunity came to visit South Africa, he was given a choice of 3 schools in KwaZulu-Natal. Glenwood was not the strongest on paper.
“At the time, Glenwood’s rugby results were not as strong as those of the other 2 schools,” he wrote.
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“However, what mattered most to me was not the scores, but the passion, tradition, and spirit that were so clearly evident throughout the Glenwood rugby programme.”
Life at Gibson House
Arriving alone in a foreign country at 16 was daunting. Kvido admitted he was nervous about leaving his family and home behind. But from the moment he arrived at Gibson House, Glenwood’s boarding establishment, that anxiety began to ease.
He said the boys there became like a second family to him. He initially joined a Grade 11 class before moving into the Cambridge International programme, where he attended English lessons and formed lasting friendships.
More than rugby
Kvido’s time at Glenwood stretched beyond the rugby field. He represented the school in matches and became part of its academic community through the Cambridge programme.
“Glenwood is far more than a school uniform or a classroom,” he wrote.
“It is a brotherhood, a community, and a place where young men are encouraged to become the best versions of themselves.”
Looking back, Kvido described the decision to travel to South Africa as one of the best he has made, saying the experience helped shape the person he is today.
Glenwood High School’s famous war cry adds to Kvido Zak’s Durban experience
Briefly News previously reported on Glenwood High School’s energetic war cry, which captured attention on social media after learners delivered a tightly synchronised performance involving their blazers.
The January 2026 video showed dozens of Glenwood boys performing the routine in unison, with viewers praising the precision and school spirit on display.
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Source: Briefly News
