The pressure of filling big boots is something that doesn’t faze the impressive young FNB Shimlas loose forward, Ramon Uys. The player, who scored the defending champions’ final try in their 59-29 victory against Wits in Bloemfontein on Monday night, is the younger brother of Pierre Uys—who became a Shimlas legend last year before going on to represent the Cheetahs. The older Uys captained the Shimlas to glory in 2024, leading them to their second FNB Varsity Cup title.
Ramon insists that following in his brother’s footsteps isn’t a source of pressure, but rather a motivation that drives them both to improve.
“No, I don’t see it that way at all in terms of pressure because my brother captained the team last year. We are very close, and we motivate each other—we both just want to get better,” said Ramon.
“In fact, we actually compete against each other and push each other to improve. He helps me a lot with my game, especially with the finer details. He has motivated me a lot, but I’ve never thought about the fact that he was the winning captain last year. We’re brothers, so that doesn’t add any pressure.”
Ramon played for the UFS Young Guns in 2024 and was undoubtedly one of their standout performers. He admitted that stepping up from the FNB Young Guns to the FNB Varsity Cup is a significant challenge.
“There are definitely a lot more moves to learn and a lot more detail involved. The intensity is much higher—it’s a much faster game, and keeping up with the pace is tough. Then, of course, the players are also a lot bigger and more physical, which is another major aspect of the game.”
Uys and the Shimlas will be back in action against the University of Johannesburg in Bloemfontein on Monday, with the match at Shimla Park kicking off at 16:45.
Fixtures: HERE
Tickets: HERE
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