For the first time since the establishment of the Sol Plaatje University (SPU) in Kimberley ten years ago, its first rugby team secured a place in the FNB Varsity Shield for 2025.
SPU secured its place on Monday, 12 August, during a promotion-relegation match against the Tshwane University of Technology by beating them by 29 – 27.
The FNB Varsity Cup and Shield is an annual tournament with the top university rugby teams in the country.
Jacques Ollie Mew, head of rugby at SPU, said it is totally unheard of that a team made such a drastic change in a year, referring to last years’ University Sports South Africa (USSA) games where they had to battle far above their ability.
Mew said eight years ago the first SPU 7s team was formed, followed by a 15s team. At the 2019 USSA games they competed with mixed feelings as many team members never played rugby before.
“We had to build a team, and these very coachable players were incredibly brave.”
The USSA 7s takes place in Kimberley on 21 and 22 September.
