Five-time FNB Varsity Cup champions, FNB UP-Tuks, are ready to set this year’s tournament alight as they target another shot at the coveted trophy they last won in 2022. After falling at the semi-final stage last season, the Pretoria outfit returns with a refreshed squad, renewed hunger, and a clear mission to go all the way.
“The camp atmosphere is good and positive; we started last year in November with a six-week training cycle before the festive holiday. The boys are training hard, every year is different, and all teams going into the competition want to win; we want to win,” said head coach Dewy Swartbooi.
“For it is for us to represent the university with everything we have.”
The five-time champions will tackle the season with a newly formed team, having lost 15 players from last season. It will be a huge toll in what could be described as a rebuilding phase. Swartbooi alludes to the rewards of the Varsity Cup competition
“The longer you been together as a squad, the more experience you have as a squad. That is where I applauded UCT last year; they had a squad that had been together for a couple of years. For us this season, we lost 15 players that played last year for various reasons, some are age restrictions, and some are signing professional contracts,” he said.
Experience is key. When you look at the Springboks in the past years, they had an experienced squad. But this is also an opportunity for the young guys to show up. We have a couple of new additions to our squad that we believe will help us this season. Divan du Toit, who played fly-half for NWU, is here because we lost JP Wentzel, who is now in Italy.
“It would mean a lot for me to win the trophy as a head coach; I won it as an assistant before. We need to keep a good account for ourselves; we are playing at home a team we lost in the semi-finals last year, also at home. Our boys will be ready come Monday night, let the stars align and hopefully for the Stripe Generation.”
FNB Tuks take on the champions, the Ikey Tigers, at 19:00 (SA Time) on Monday, 16 February.
FNB UP-Tuks Provisional Squad:
Khanyisa stamper, JJ Du Preez, Guvandré Jaydon Moses, Kieran Durandt, Gustav van der Merwe, Barnard Nortje, Tamer Mousa, Danré Pike, Ulrich Taylor, Ruan van Blommestein, Ruan Coetzee, Jayd Austin, Ivaan Költzow, Randy Muzungu, Buhle Mpaka, Xavier Schoeman, MJ Nel, Jacques Oberholzer, David Engongo, Jean Fourie, Luke Geldenhuys, Dian Coetzee, Dillon Smith, Duncan Blignaut, Ben Jansen van Vuuren, Abel Pretorius, Xavier Schoeman, Zander Schoeman, Oelof de Meyer, Akhona Kunene. Chad-Lee Valentine, Joshua Dampies, Dennis Obi, Divan Du Toit, Patrick Hoban, Kobus Janse Van Rensburg, Christiaan Vlok, Munashe Dukuswa, Buhlebethu Planga, Jean-Louis Van Rensburg, Andile Myeni, Antonio Bruiners, Van Reenen Kruger, Tumelo Mohale, Luke Geldenhuyz, Philliphus de Bruyn, Nico du Randt, Ricus Wessels, Elkan Willemse, Jaedon, Jack, Ignatius Jantjies.