It is unchartered territory for the Tuks rugby team in the 2024 Varsity Shield competition, after a dismal performance in last year’s Varsity Cup competition saw the defending champions winless at the end of the round robin stages and being automatically relegated for the first time in their history.

The so called ‘Stripe Generation’ are now looking to redeem themselves and head coach Deway Swartbooi believes the Pretoria outfit is up for the challenge in their quest to return to the elite Varsity Cup division.

“It’s been a real challenge. We lost some experienced players, so we will miss that but in the same breath, it is also a great opportunity for the new Stripe Generation to stick up their hand and become a Tuks legend. Playing in Varsity Shield will be tough and unknown to us but the boys are up for the challenge and going to take it one game at a time,” said Swartbooi during a recent interview.

Though they experienced their worst campaign ever last year and lost most of their key players, Swartbooi is pleased with the returning troops. One of them being the experienced flyhalf Walter Visser.

“A couple of the boys are returning for their last dance. Men like Visser, fullback Kyle Cyster,  centre Zander Reynders and prop Ethan Burger,” he remarked.

Tuks is set to begin their season with an away game against the University of Fort Hare in the Davidson Stadium in Alice on Friday 23 February.

Swartbooi has sent a warning to his opponents regarding his new recruits.

“You will have to wait and see the new pool of players coming through. The preparations have been going well. But only time will tell.  We will just have to wait for our first game to know where we stand,” he concluded.

Tuks’ squad (subject to change) for the tournament is: Nico Du Randt, JL Van Rensburg, Abel Pretorius, Jean Fourie, Jayd Austin, Xavier Schoeman, Kobus Janse van Rensburg, Andile Myeni, Jonathan Smit, Kurt-Leigh Cookson, Patrick Hoban, Dillon Smith, Haydn Kemp, Andre Smith, Cayno February, Dian Marais, Adrian Joubert, Oelof de Meyer, Jayden Sam, Johan Louw, Pieter Rossouw, Buhle Planga, Munashe Dukuswa, Esam Zamubuntu, Bayanda Ngubane, Ruan van Blommestein, Chad-Lee Valentine, Barnard Nortje, JP Wentzel, Euan Groenewald, Roald Hattingh, Kamohelo Tlome, JW Marè, MJ Nel, Rivaldo De Kock, Marco Venter, Edwin Till, Daimon O’Connell, Allister Williams, Jandre Burger, Tharquinn Manuel, Walter Visser, Odwa Moletsane, Zander Reynders, Keane Galant, Ambesa Zenzile, GC Fourie, Ethan Burger, Dian Coetzee, Kyle Cyster, Juandré Jooste, Hilton Gie, Menzie Mndebele, Hlomla Marenene.

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