All eyes will be on the Tuks Stadium in Pretoria at 5pm today (15 March) when log leaders FNB UP-Tuks and FNB Varsity College meet in what must be the most anticipated clash of the 2024 FNB Varsity Shield competition.
The two teams are on equal points (15) at the top of the log, with the Stripe Generation in first position thanks to a better points difference. Neither have lost a game so far this season.
Tuks’ aim is simple – go all the way and win the competition to get back into the upper league of the FNB Varsity Cup. Debutants Varsity College also want to show they belong among the best of the best.
Eight-man Marco Venter has been an important cog in the wheel of an impressive Tuks forward pack as Dewey Swartbooi’s team have bullied their opposition up front in the first three rounds.
Venter says he relishes the pressure they put on their opposition.
“I enjoy this competition as it is a learning stage in my life, we travel and get to see parts of South Africa I’ve never seen before. The best moment was when we played WSU, we realised at halftime that it was a tough game. We had to pull together as a team and stick to our structure, we played the Tuks rugby and the brand we all love.”
Venter had no plans of playing rugby when he enrolled at the University of Pretoria until he saw a group of FNB Young Guns players training and he hasn’t looked back since then. During his stint with the Tuks Young Guns, they won the title in 2022.
According to Venter, he has loved every single moment since.
“Rugby changed my life in a very positive manner, firstly it brings enjoyment to my life and it’s a place I can escape to with a lot of things happening in life.”
by Lehlogonolo Ditshego
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