The North West University won the 2017 Varsity Cricket tournament in Potchefstroom with a thrilling 4 wicket win against Tukkies in the final at Senwes Park. It was a magical moment and launched the careers of some of these students into professional cricket. The NWU head coach, Conrad de Swardt, who took the team to glory, is still the cricket manager at the NWU. Potchefstroom Herald sport journalist, Wouter Pienaar, looks at where the squad of 14 players currently find themselves:
- Wihan Lubbe
Wihan Lubbe is one of the latest additions to the Proteas T20 squad after he received a call up in March. Lubbe has been a consistent performer for the Lions and now the Warriors in SA Franchise cricket over the past four years. Lubbe captained the NWU to victory in the 2017 tournament and had a stellar week impressing with both bat and ball for the NWU. It could only be a matter of time until we see Lubbe in the green and gold on the field.
- Janneman Malan
Janneman is another former NWU player from this talented group who has gone on to higher honours. Malan has represented the Cobras with distinction since moving to the Cape. He also played a couple of superb innings in the Mzanzi Super League (MSL) for the Cape Town Blitz and gained a Proteas T20 and ODI call up. He is most well known for scoring a brilliant 129* against Australia in Bloemfontein in only his second one day international. The 24-year-old has still a lot of cricket left in him and should feature for the Proteas more regularly soon.
- Marques Ackerman
The Dolphins 4-day franchise captain recently captained his side to the title in a superb performance against the Titans. Ackerman has blossomed since moving to Durban and has played a number of stylish innings for the Dolphins in both long and short formats of the game. Ackerman’s talent is undoubted and consistent performances will put him in good stead for national call ups in the future.
- Shane Dadswell
Shane Dadswell has always been known as a big hitter of the ball as his 490 against Potch Dorp in a club cricket match in 2017 will attest. Dadswell made his first class debut in 2018 for the NW Dragons and played his last first class match for the NW Dragons against Gauteng in 2020. Dadswell is still playing professional cricket and currently living in Johannesburg.
- Hanco Olivier
Olivier has been one of the most talented and stylishly looking right-handed batsmen of the NWU during his studies and although he did not get a lot of game time during the tournament, he was still an integral part of the team. Olivier moved to Bloemfontein in 2018 after his studies and started playing for Free State whilst also working for SA Truck Bodies. He is currently in the Cape in the Boland working for SA Truck Bodies, whilst still planning on playing cricket for a respective province soon.
- Ruan Haasbroek
The former Potchefstroom Gimnasium captain is recently scored two half-centuries in the CSA 3-day competition for the NW Dragons. Haasbroek was one of the youngsters in the 2017 squad and has matured as a player having also gotten the change to represent the Lions in the 2021 Momentum One Day Cup.
- Lesego Senokwane
Lesego Senokwane is currently one of top players for the North West Dragons having won the player of the year award in 2020. Senokwane also recently scored a fine hundred against Central Gauteng in the recent CSA 3-day competition. Senokwane was still one of the up and coming players in the 2017 squad but has blossomed into a fine opening batsman in the past couple of years. He deservedly received a spot in the Dragons squad for the 2021/22 season in division 1.
- Edrich Lubbe
Lubbe was the wicketkeeper for the NWU in the tournament and will be remembered for his unbeaten innings that took the NWU to victory in the final against Tuks. Lubbe is currently in Krugersdorp where he is a practicing attorney. Lubbe is currently not playing cricket anymore and is currently married to former NWU netball captain, Chante Lubbe (Bester).
- Jovaun van Wyngaardt
Van Wyngaardt was one of the main strike weapons in Conrad de Swardt’s side with the ball during the tournament. The talented fast bowler represented the North West Dragons for the 2018/19 season before heading off the England. Van Wyngaardt played his last cricket match in 2019 in England where he represented Rawtenstall Cricket Club, north of Manchester. Van Wyngaardt returned to South Africa tried his hand as a financial advisor and then in lockdown started his own business in construction and renovation (JDVW Renovations) in Pretoria.
- Dyllan Matthews
The talented leg spinner was one of the most important players in the 2017 side taking several crucial wickets. Matthews is currently still playing cricket, having played for Easterns and most recently getting a game for the Cobras. He though is still without a contract, and currently also studying a BSc degree in physics and chemistry at Unisa.
- JP le Roux
JP le Roux was also one of the top pace bowlers for the NWU during Varsity Cricket getting some vital breakthroughs. He is still playing club cricket for Potchefstroom Dorp Cricket Club. Le Roux recently played against Ramblers Cricket Club two weeks ago in the Wohnen/Top Paints NW Club Premier League. Le Roux is currently a teacher at Laerskool President in Klerksdorp. 
- Niel Durow
Durow was one of the fast bowlers in the side who impressed with his accuracy in the middle overs. Durow finished his studies in 2018 and is currently working at his family farm in Clocolan. He manages Sussex cattle and Africa Droughtmaster cattle.
- Julian Soutter
The tall fast bowler was one of the consistent faces for both the NWU and the Dragons. In 2018, Soutter went to England and came back to South Africa where he played cricket in Limpopo, before getting an unfortunate injury whilst taking a catch. Soutter is currently working at Senwes in Klerksdorp in the marketing and branding department for the past two years. Soutter has also taken to videography and is also producing corporate videos for Senwes and busy with social media marketing.
- Bantu Dandala
Bantu Dandala is still playing cricket for the North West Dragons in the 2020/21 season and well as the North West University. He was one of the few players to win the Varsity Cup title with two different teams (Tuks and NWU)
