As the spell-binding Super 12 rugby opera, with its riveting twists and turns, draws its curtains this weekend, a significant share of its memories will go with Hellenic hooker Brendon Mudzikiriri, one of the standout characters in the elite schools division.

Mudzikitiri celebrated his hyper-active season by guiding Hellenic to a superb 17-9 victory over Eaglesvale at Police Grounds last Saturday, an encounter that was played as the first curtain-raiser to the Zimbabwe versus Uganda African Cup clash whose main precursor was the tie between Prince Edward and Kyle.

The stocky former Zimbabwe Schools Under-16 hooker was definitely the star of the show in the pack and put the icing on the cake by notching one of his school's three tries, after breaking free from a scrum in Vale's 22 to touch down beneath the posts.

Liam Horsley and Kudah Simende planted the other tries as Hellenic overpowered Eaglesvale for the first time in their relatively short history.

But what was fascinating most was the familiarity of Hellenic's Number 2. For until the early months of this year, Mudzikitiri had been spotted in the colours of Prince Edward Tigers.

He is one of a rare breed of players to have turned out for two different schools in the league, and provided exceptional service to them both.

Also an accomplished cricket bowler, Mudzikitiri was born on 9 August 1999 meaning he will be 17 in a week or so time. He did his primary at Gateway Primary School in Mt Pleasant and enrolled for his secondary education at Hellenic, quickly establishing himself as a multi-talented sportsman of note.

However, after two years at the school Mudzikitiri drew his heart closer to rugby where he had already been capped in the first team which brought him new ambitions.

Needing a bigger stage where to expose his abilities, he moved to Prince Edward and in another two years was already putting in the famous striped jersey of the school's first team.

True to Mudzikitiri's expectations, Doug Trivella, the ZImbabwe Schools Under-16 rugby coach appeared to be almost on standby to give him a call into the Zimbabwe team touring South Africa for the Grant Khomo Under-16 Week festival.

Trivella last year handed Mudzikitiri a start in the historic battle with Namibia which Zimbabwe won 21-7 at the Brighton Sports Ground in Oudtshoorn.

Mudzikitiri's fun in the sun was interrupted in February, while in pre-season training with the Tigers, when he learnt he had not secured the requisite subjects to proceed to Advanced Level and thereafter decided he would discontinue his studies at the school.

"It was a heart-breaking moment for him,'' commented one of his junior coaches.

"He had looked forward to another two years in Tigers colours and maintain his position in the Zimbabwe Schools rugby side. But rather than repeat the one or two Ordinary Level subjects needed, he decided to do it elsewhere.''

Ultimately, Mudzikitiri chose his old school Hellenic, who welcomed their former influential front-rower with both arms. Mudzikitiri has still succeeded in turning around the fortunes of Hellenic.