Jean Verster’s enthusiasm is contagious. World champions can attest to this – just ask Caster Semenya and many others.

Chederick van Wyk was born in the year of champions, and that is what he has become. The world first met this future sprinter on 18 February 1995, a few months before the Springboks lifted the Web Ellis Trophy on a historic afternoon at Ellis Park. Destiny also had a plan for the young boy from Prieska.

The North-West University Eagles are off to a solid start in the 2021 Varsity Cup tournament with two wins from three games. They first beat the Madibaz from NMMU 47–28 and old rivals Shimlas 32–22 before André Pretorius’s side came undone against Tukkies in a resounding 33–15 loss.

Covid-19 has revolutionised how businesses and other institutions are run. The sports industry is no exception and has been massively affected by the global pandemic. Even though the industry has been broadcasting sports events for more than two decades now, this has been limited to professional teams and clubs.

The Eagles have landed! The NWU got their Varsity Cup campaign off to a winning start by beating the Madibaz from NMMU by 47–28 in Pretoria on Monday, 5 April.

Jo-Ané van Dyk has just completed and hour-long physio session, but – like always – her personality is bubbling like champagne. “No,” says the 23-year-old javelin champion of the North-West University (NWU), there are no injuries: “Just maintenance work!”

There are loose forwards blessed with the flair and razzmatazz reserved for their much more flamboyant brothers in the backline. They are the Kwagga Smiths and Bobby Skinstads who can step and swerve with the best of them. They have a deceptive turn of space and silky hands, and they know how to execute those deft touches that open up defences.  

It has been almost exactly two years since a singular talent fulfilled a lifelong promise. On 3 February 2019 Janneman Nieuwoudt Malan made his international T20 debut for South Africa against Pakistan on home soil.

There cannot be a more contrasting display of two rugby players’ personalities than the punch-up between Schalk Brits and Akker van der Merwe in 2019.

The North-West University (NWU) will be home to a number of national and international tennis players during February.

Last year the university was announced as the official venue for the week one and week two tennis tournaments of the Ilana Kloss international events.