Potchefstroom has long been known as the hotbed for international sporting teams in their quest for perfection.
The sevens rugby team of the University of Réunion (Université de La Réunion) in the Réunion Islands recently made the NWU Sports Village their training base for the week, in preparation for the upcoming French University Sevens Championships at Stade Paul Chandon in Epernay from 18 to 19 May.

The team manager of the University of Réunion and physical education lecturer at the institution, Fabrice Payet, gave his opinion on the training camp, the upcoming championships and the team’s goals for the sevens extravaganza in France.
“I am working with all the rugby sevens teams and basketball. I am also a physical trainer at the university,” said Payet.
“We came to Potch to prepare. Last year, we came sixth in the French University Sevens Championships and, this year, we needed to train more before going to France. I decided to come to Potch because I know the former NWU coach, Jonathan Mokuena and know the facilities are fantastic,” said Payet.

“We have a lot of good skills with some talented players that could play at higher levels. My goal is to perform well in the championships, and even winning the tournament. We have several new players and many players come from a winning rugby background. We are committed as a team, this year,” added Payet optimistically.

The team will stay in the village of Marcoussis, south of Paris, before the tournament begins. Many university sides in France have professional players in their ranks, which adds to the grandeur of the competition.
The University of Bordeaux is the current titleholder of the competition.
“It is a two-day tournament with different pools and you then need to qualify for the playoffs where it’s winner takes all,” explained Payet.
To cap off the week, the team from the small island, south-west of Mauritius, went to watch the Super Rugby match between the Bulls and the Waratahs at Loftus.