Covid-19 vs Varsity Cup - University of Pretoria
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VARSITY CUP, IT’S HAPPENING!
Marco van Staden
shares his
knowledge.
AUTHOR: VALERIE BELLADONA
Marco van Staden made his Springbok debut in
2018 when South Africa beat Argentina 34-12 in
Durban. Playing loose forward, van Staden is a
force to be reckoned with which has earned him the
nickname “Eskom”. Why “Eskom”? Because he
“turns the lights out” with his big hits.
van Staden was born in Krugersdorp and studied
sport science at the University of Pretoria. He was
part of the UP-Tuks team that won the 2017 Varsity
Cup title and it was his outstanding performance
during the season that had him recognized by the
Covid-19 vs Varsity Cup.
Springboks. Following that he had an even more
impressive season with the Blue Bulls proving to
everyone that he meant business. AUTHOR: NINA EVANNA The teams will need to prepare themselves for
van Staden shared some of his rugby knowledge empty stadiums bringing about a different
with the current UP-Tuks Varsity Cup squad, Covid-19 has come with many adaptations to the psychological challenge. Luckily for all the die-
focusing on stealing the ball from a ruck, something
normal life. One big change in 2021 will be the hard rugby fans, most of the Varsity Cup fixtures
that van Staden has mastered. He believes the most will be broadcast on television.
important aspect of a team is the team dynamics and
adaptations to the Varsity Cup tournament. It has
been confirmed that the 2021 Varsity Cup will One possible huge advantage of the bubble is that
the culture, something that UP-Tuks has also UP-Tuks could continuously have the ‘home
identified as being of importance. take place however teams will go into what is
called a ‘bubble’. When the teams are in the ground advantage’. The University of Pretoria has
van Staden described the Varsity Cup tournament as
bubble they will all stay in one location and not been identified as an ideal location offering
an important stepping stone between under 20 and
senior level rugby, providing more opportunities be allowed to leave or be in contact with enough accommodation for all the teams,
than some might think for up and coming players. individuals outside of the bubble. UP-Tuks Head capabilities to restrict access to the bubble, an
Although van Staden struggled with many injuries coach, Nico Luus, says this setup has not had ample amount of fields with a top quality main
leading up to his Varsity Cup debut, when he much of an effect on the teams’ preparations pitch.
eventually stepped onto the field he proved how adding that the team decided during the lockdown No matter what challenges may lie ahead of the
beneficial it can be for a player to perform in the
period to shift their focus to recovery as the team teams preparing for the Varsity Cup, UP-Tuks is
Varsity Cup and he believes that if you put in the ready for anything and is sure to be a force to be
work, you will reap the rewards.
who is able to recover the best will be the team to
perform the best. Luus is pleased with where his reckoned with this season.
.
team is in terms of preparation and adds that the
players are rearing to play, considering that it’s
been almost one year since any of them have
played a game.
Spectators will not be allowed at the games,
bringing about a drastic change to the usual
excitement created on campuses during the
Varsity Cup season. The student experience to
‘Back your Boytjies’ is no longer what it used to
be, but this does not mean that the boys don’t still
Van Staden sharing his knowledge with the need your support.
Varsity Cup players.
IN THIS ISSUE
COACHES CORNER: GILBERT GAZETTE PLAYER IN FOCUS:
DRAGHOENDER DAVID COETZER
PAGE 1
2021 / / MARCH / / 001 KEYWORD
OTHER NEWS GILBERT GAZETTE
Coaches Corner Nicknames
Dabeon Draghoender AUTHOR: MORRIS GILBERT
Nicknames, some
AUTHOR: MORRIS GILBERT extreme, are also
student of the game. As a coach you must part of the UP-
remain committed to learn every day. I need Tuks 1 culture.
Coaching and for that matter Varsity Cup rugby And normally
are not uncharted terrain for Dabeon to be patient and accessible, own up to my
mistakes without passing the buck and have they all have very
Draghoender. interesting and
Nicknamed, Hoener, for all the obvious reasons, the ability to adapt my coaching styles to
align with the skills and potential of my varying origins.
he became part of the TuksRugby set-up as a One that comes to
player in 2012. In fact, he turned 25 on the same players.”
His biggest dream as a coach is to one day mind immediately
Monday that UP-Tuks 1 won the coveted Varsity is that of the
Cup for the first time, beating arch-rivals and own his own development program for
disadvantaged kids: “Through rugby I can newly appointed
defending champions Maties in the 2012 final at UP-Tuks 1
positively change their prospects for life”.
a packed TuksStadium. Hoener was the starting manager, Andries TuksRugby mascot, Chippie.
inside center. Kruger, who got renamed only when he became
His break as a coach came in 2018 when David a student of the University of Pretoria.
Manuel, the then UP-Tuks 1 Varsity Cup head Thanks to his natural athleticism he became the
coach appointed Hoener as his skills coach – the obvious choice to run around in the TuksRugby
same position he now holds in the coaching team mascot, a squirrel named Chippie.
of Nico Luus. Incidentally, Andries in one of only two Tukkies
Does the fact that he played rugby at provincial who have played for UP-Tuks 1, coached at
level better equip him for his job? Yes and no, TuksRugby and is now a permanent employee of
come the reply. ‘Yes’ because he understands the the UP (at TuksRugby). He is in charge of all the
speed and pressure of the game, but also ‘no’ High Performance student affairs, something he
because coaching is much more technical than has first class knowledge of. He is still in very
playing. good physical shape and has already finished his
Players can and must expect him to be at the top MA degree at the University, and is set to tackle
of his game: “If I cannot improve or sustain their his doctorate studies sooner than later.
skills level, I am not the man for the job. So far I In my years as UP-Tuks 1 team manager I crossed
am encouraged by the skills standard in the paths with the following players with notable
senior group of our Varsity Cup squad, but have nicknames (it is alleged that having nicknames,
a lot of challenges when it comes to the junior these individuals are all special, unique and in
group. Their skills level is at that of primary some case simply awesome):
school players, and I do not say that lightly. I
have my work cut out.” UP-Tuks skills coach, Dabeon BOEBOES: Andries Coetzee, fullback/wing;
His coaching philosophy is simple: “A am a Draghoender GHOST: Riaan Britz, fullback/wing;
BLOKKIES: Vainon Willis, wing;
CHIPPIE: Andries Kruger, wing;
HABANA: Dewald Naude, wing;
MALLES: Zandre Kruger, wingl
BOK: Stefan Coetzee, wing/centre;
SHNAVY: Ciaran Dayaram, wing/centre;
TROMPIE: Jerome Pretorius, centre;
MANEATER: Rohan Janse van Rensburg, centre;
NAAS: Tinus de Beer, fly-half;
BOETA: Christo Hamman, fly-half/fullback;
FIELA: Theo Boshoff, fly-half;
POERIE: Ruan van Rooyen, scrumhalf;
KROKODIL: Dan Nicholls, flanker;
BAYWATCH: Rudolph Joubert, loose forward;
ESKOM: Marco van Staden, flanker;
KAROOLS: Stephan Smit, flanker;
SOUS: Franco Mostert, lock;
TULU: Marius Verwey, lock;
GRIZZLY: Mihlali Stamper, lock;
GOOGLE: Adriaan Burger, lock/loose forward;
VANILLA GORILLA: Vincent Koch, prop;
HUSKY: Juan Schoeman, prop;
Hoener scoring a tri in the 2012 Varsity Cup game against NMMU
YSTER: Jan Enslin, hooker.
COMING UP
PLAYER IN FOCUS: THE REAL MVP’S GET INVOLVED AT
DAVID COETZER TUKSRUGBY
PAGE 2
2021 / / MARCH / / 001 KEYWORD
FNB UP-TUKS FLY-HALF
Player in Focus: David Coetzer
AUTHOR: MARGO MEYER For Coetzer his goal at Tuks is to bring coaches. The confidence and belief that they can pull it
home the 2021 Varsity Cup title and through this year can be felt in the team according to
Selborne College superstar, David Coetzer, consistently grow with the players for even Coetzer and he also adds that their excellent leaders are
matriculated in 2017 and made his way to the big more success to hopefully follow. It would just the little extra push they need to win.
leagues directly after. He has made his debut in also be a great honour for Coetzer to one Currently Coetzer is busy with his Bachelor’s degree in
multiple jerseys such as Western Province, Blue day play senior rugby representing at accounting at UNISA, however he is waiting to be
Bulls, South Africa and even our very own Tuks. provincial level or maybe even overseas admitted into the University of Pretoria to study and
Coetzer’s love for the game started at the young age and to experience rugby from all parts of eventually become a chartered accountant. Coetzer also
of five and augmented over the years. After school the world. “I wouldn’t say there is has big dreams to one day own and manage a business.
he started playing for Western Province u/19, anything specific that makes me stand out Let’s keep an eye on this young man and follow his
continuing to SA u/20 and Blue Bulls u/21. “My as a player, but I will always work as hard journey to success!
most memorable rugby moment was facing the as I can and play to the best of my abilities
Haka against New Zealand u/20 at the Junior World for any team I am a part of”. Coetzer feels
Cup in 2018 and 2019”. Coetzer has played fly-half very confident with the teams’
for most of his rugby career but if he had to try preparations for the upcoming Varsity Cup
another position, it would definitely be full-back. tournament and believes that there has
Coetzer is an ambitious individual who believes in been great commitment and hard work
the Mat Fraser quote, ‘Hard work pays off’. from the whole group, management and
Coetzer scoring a tri for the SA u/20 team.
PLAYER FACTS
Do you have game day superstitions?
And if so, what are they?
Coetzer, fly-half for the Blue Bulls u/21.
I don’t have any game day superstitions, I just need the
game day program from the morning to the kick-off to
keep on time.
What is your go-to song?
My go to song is Goosebumps by HVME
What is your favorite post game meal?
My favorite post-match meal is a steak, sweet
Coetzer at a Blue Bulls training session.
potato and spinach.
PAGE 3
2021 / / MARCH / / 001 KEYWORD
APPRECIATION’S/THANK YOU’S
The Real MVP’s
AUTHOR: VALERIE BELLADONA The afternoon sessions started on the scrum
machine, with the man himself, Richard
On Thursday 25 March the UP-Tuks 1 Varsity Bands, putting in some hard hits with the
Cup squad was graced by the presence of forwards. Shortly after this session,
some of South Africa’s rugby greats. The day legendary scrumhalf, Fourie du Preez took
was broken up into position specific sessions the teams’ scrumhalf’s through some
focusing on kicking, line-outs and scrums to passing drills followed by box kicks. To
only name a few. Apart from the fact that conclude the day current Lions lock,
these players were all former Springboks, they Willem Alberts, worked the team through
are also all TuksRugby Alumni players or attacking and defensive breakdowns.
coaches. The session was also open to outside The presence of the USN promoters next to
coaches wanted to broaden their knowledge. the fields was enjoyed by all the legends
The kicked off with a session hosted by Currie and the players and overall the day was a
Cup winning Blue Bulls fly-half, Morne huge success.
Steyn. Steyn’s session focused on the kicking From TuksRugby to everyone involved in TuksRugby Management team with Victor Matfield.
aspect of the game, specifically winning space making the day so successful, we say Thank
on the field with strategic kicks. Following You!
this session former Bulls lock, Victor
Matfield, took to the field with the line-outs,
GET INVOLVED
proving that he still has what it takes to keep
up with the young players. To conclude the
WITH TUKSRUGBY
morning session Wynand Olivier took the
center players for a session focusing
specifically on the importance of running lines
Email:
and decision making.
USN presence around the TuksRugby fields.
tuksrugby@up.ac.za
Contact number:
SPONSORED BY 012 420 6068
MISSION STATEMENT
Striving to develop quality student-athletes within a high-performance environment
who will graduate with meaningful degrees.
Preparing young athletes for life after rugby, competing for championships on and
off the field, for future generations to follow.
PAGE 4
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