Firsts and TuksRugby have become almost synonymous over the years, but 2025 could be the year in which the “Boys in Stripes” achieve something that will probably never happen again in South African student rugby.
That is to win the Varsity Shield and the Varsity Cup tournaments in succession.
Last year, Tuks were crowned Shield champions. Die-hard Tuks rugby fans would have preferred their team to win the Varsity Cup, but 2023 was undoubtedly one of the bleakest years in the history of Tuks rugby. The team finished last on the Cup points table and was demoted to play Shield rugby in 2024. The chances of that ever happening again are slim. The positive that Tuks can take from this is knowing they can do what no other team has ever done.
Jean-Pierre Wentzel, who starred for Tuks last year in the Shield Tournament, makes no secret as to what goal he and his teammates set for themselves.
“We want to win the Varsity Cup, but making the final our sole focus would be foolish. That is why we have set numerous small goals to become champs. The first is to beat Wits on their home turf on 17 February. Then, our focus will shift to the clash against UJ. It is all about taking one game at a time,” Wentzel said bluntly during a recent interview.
According to Wentzel, about 70% of the players who played last year are again eligible to play.
“So far, our preparation has gone well. We played Walter Sisulu University, Louis Trichardt, and Northwest University in warm-up encounters. On each occasion, we had two Tuks teams playing. Of the six games played, we only lost one,” Wentzel remarked.
Playing as a flyhalf, Wentzel starred last year for Tuks in the Shield Tournament. He notched up 95 points, including 46 conversions and a penalty goal. It led to him being the Shield Rookie that Rocks. Wentzel has yet to play Varsity Cup rugby.
Asked as to what he brings to the team, Wentzel said, he considers himself to be an old-school flyhalf.
“The most important to me is to get my backline into play. It helps that I can read the game and have good peripheral vision. I can spot space on the outside. I can also dictate play based on my tactical kicking abilities if required. In rugby, there is often a stigma around flyhalfs afraid of physical contact. It is important to me to break the stigma. That is why I never hesitate to put my body on the line to make a big hit,” he said.
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