The first rugby team of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Potchefstroom and defending champions is through to the finals of the Pirates Grand Championships, after beating Roodepoort 41-16 in Alberton.

Burger van der Westhuizen, who needs no introduction to rugby supporters in the North West province, is the team’s coach.

The NWU ended top the log after beating the University of Johannesburg in their penultimate game before the semi-final, and will now face Wits University in the final.

A lot of credit has to go to Burger who has shown that there is no end to his rugby acumen. Not only has he coached the NWU’s U21 team to great success and formed part of the Leopards’ coaching staff, but he has also coached the NWU’s men’s residence Patria to the national Varsity crown. 

It’s been a wonderful year for rugby at the NWU. The first team ended third on the overall Varsity Cup log earlier this year, and former NWU stalwart, Lood de Jager, has been included in the Springbok squad for his second consecutive IRB Rugby World Cup.