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STAFF REPORTER
Sport at the University of Western Cape forms an integral part of how the university attracts top students, said Clement Trout, the University of Western Cape rugby manager, after his team regained Varsity Cup status through automatic promotion after winning all their matches to finish at the top of the Varsity Shield tournament.
UWC Rugby had been relegated to Varsity Shield after the 2022 Varsity Cup season, but UWC Director of Rugby, Paul Treu, said that his charges and the support team had been rewarded for their hard work in the past year.
“Our backroom staff has done amazing work this season with 18 new players selected over seven matches. We put a big emphasis on leadership development and mentorship, and we are grateful to our captain Tasriq Mynhardt and his leadership group for buying into our vision and values.”
Fourth-year Bachelor of Education student, Mynhardt said he enjoyed every minute of the 2023 season after the disappointment of relegation.
“I was part of the Varsity Cup group that was relegated. I felt my responsibility was to get the team back into the Varsity Cup. Coach Paul said he was very proud of us, and I could see as we were celebrating afterwards that his body language and facial expression were that of a proud mentor.
“This promotion is essential for the university. Given the background of UWC, I think we create hope in the community. We have implemented a value system that everyone has bought into, and as a captain, it was and is essential that we stick to these core team values.
“It was an amazing feeling when that final whistle sounded. It is an experience we have not felt in a very long time,” Mynhardt said. “This promotion was special, like most, I am sure, but for me, it was special because it felt different, seeing that we have so many new players – I think there are about 18 new players in the team this year. This means we had to rebuild.”
Club manager Clement Trout said that while thrilled with the team’s return to the Varsity Cup competition, he believes that the club’s success contributed to a much larger mission of sports and community development.
“Not only is this important for us as a team and our progression but also for the progress of the university. UWC is a beacon of hope within some very challenging communities for our rugby club to be viewed as an equal competitor with the likes of UJ, Maties and UCT,” Trout said.
Underscoring the importance of sport to the university, he said it formed a critical part of ensuring top students join the university. “We have grown tremendously since our first entry into Varsity Shield in 2008. Female empowerment and giving women in sports the proper and healthy platform is a key focus area for the sports administration department.”
“Congratulations to Coach Paul and his entire coaching and management team. These guys have made huge strides in providing an excellent atmosphere for a high-performing environment,” added Trout.
Treu, however, kept their feet on the ground, praising them and finishing the job when it mattered. “However, gaining promotion is one thing, but staying in the main competition is an entirely different challenge.
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