CHRIZAAN PRETORIUS
Varsity Cup is one of the most loved sports competitions and is supported by a diverse array of students. Moreover, it does not only encompass TuksRugby but includes and affects the mentality of many student supporters. TuksRugby, like many other sports that form part of the #UPYourSportingGame, has come to a standstill with the COVID-19 pandemic. Nico Luus, head coach of the Varsity Cup team, told PDBY that the lockdown had a tremendous impact on TuksRugby, resulting in all Varsity Cup games and training sessions being suspended. Marius Verwey, captain of this team, who would like to further his career in rugby after his time at the University of Pretoria, added that it hit the team hard, since everyone now has an individual responsibility to stay fit, but it is necessary to keep the bigger picture of the situation in mind.
Overall, the Varsity Cup team of 2020 has made immense progress, with 13 players, and four coaches making their debut and growing from an inexperienced group to a tightly knit team that plays as a unit. Luus added that the future of the Varsity Cup is still very uncertain at this stage, but he encourages everyone to explore creative ways of coaching as an alternative to the physical contact that coaches and their players are used to. In fact, for now they concentrate on home-based conditioning programmes for each player to ensure that their fitness levels are on par.
Generally speaking, they both experienced a win against the FNB NWU team – only beating them in the last dying seconds of the game – and a narrow loss against Maties, which places them second on the Varsity Cup Log of 2020, so far. Luus told PDBY that their main goal is to get back on the field as soon as possible and win the Varsity Cup with full motivation.
Luus and Verwey both said that their passion for the sport derives from their love for it and the fact that it is greater than any individual, and brings people together. On the whole, Luus gave advice to all students to focus on what they can control, and as soon as the situation changes – to embrace the challenges ahead of them. In light of the Varsity Cup standstill, the collective spirit of the game keeps moving forward in not only the players, but also the supporters all hoping to soon pour their hearts out on or next to the field, participating in the #StripeGeneration in various ways.
