The North-West University (NWU) is ready to soar. On the eve of the 2020 Varsity Cup, the NWU team is brimming with confidence and ready to strike.

“Our team is motivated and is ready to deliver on its promise,” says Mervyn Taylor, NWU rugby manager. “The NWU has a proud history in this tournament and we want to reclaim the title that made us the best university team in the country.”

With ample flyers in the bank and tanks up front, the NWU boasts enough artillery for a triumphant campaign. 

Then there is also the composure that André Pretorius, Springbok flyhalf with 31 tests under his belt, will bring to the fore as new head coach.

Composure is a gift that a select few possess. On the battlefield of sport it is more often than not composure that separates winners from losers when competitors of equal talent clash.  As a player André has this in abundance.

 His exploits in the Green and Gold can attest to this when he scored a last minute penalty from close to the touchline to sink the All Blacks in Rustenburg in 2006. Later that year he annihilated the English on their home turf with four drop goals for a first win in eight attempts against the old foe.

“We have a new coaching team with exciting ideas. As a unit they have all the tools to make a success of the year, and I am more than confident that they will,” explains Mervyn.

The NWU starts their Varsity Cup journey against UP-Tuks on 3 February in Pretoria.