University of Mpumalanga rugby team rising like the sun

The University of Mpumalanga’s (UMP) rugby team won their first-ever match at the 2023 University Sport South Africa Rugby Week at Varsity College in Durban from July 6 to 12.

Although the team did play in the Ehlanzeni Mayor’s League earlier this season, they were on the losing side in all their matches.

UMP played in the C division in Durban, comprising Varsity College, Durban University of Technology (DUT), University of Mpumalanga, University of Limpopo, Sol Plaatjie University and Vaal University of Technology (VUT).

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In their opening match, the first they ever played at varsity competition level, the

Mpumalanga lads defeated Sol Plaatje University.

Results:
• UMP: 24 – Sol Plaatje: 14
• UMP: 15 – DUT: 22
• UMP: 20 – VUT: 22.

Lowvelder spoke to Kubayi Kwenyama and Mpho Matolane, two of the UMP players.

“We were very hyped for the Sol Plaatjie match. We had a great first half. We held out in the second half to register our first-ever win. It meant so much to us. Our coach, Sisa Ngcwangu, was so happy. Although we lost our other two games, we held out own at competitive university level,” they said.

The team played their first-ever rugby at White River Rugby Club’s Reef 10s in November 2022. They then competed in the Jimmy Stonehouse 10s earlier this year. They were entered into the Ehlanzeni Premier League, competing against local clubs’ second teams.

Playing against experienced teams whose average age was a lot higher than theirs, was a positive learning curve. “The league was difficult playing against bigger and older guys. We played well, but often fell away in the second half. But we learnt about proper, hard rugby,” said Matolane. The

UMP rugby team is ambitious and going places.

“Our coach believes we can achieve anything. He pushes us and we put in extra hours. We have a plan and would like to play in the Varsity Shield in the future,” said the two.