Real passion and commitment led to the Delta Drone-backed Tuks Women’s sevens rugby winning the inaugural Varsity Women’s 7s title at Pirates Club, Greenside.
Tuks possibly played one of their best games of the season when they beat UFH in the final 46-0. From the very first moment they took to the field, it was clear they are playing to honour Tuks’ coveted ‘stripes’.
“It was essential for us to not only win the trophy for the University of Pretoria but also to showcase women’s sevens rugby. I believe we have succeeded in doing so,” their elated head coach Riaan van der Merwe said.
“Before the final, I only asked one thing from the players. That was to be disciplined. Seemingly they listened because the team conceded only one penalty.”
Van der Merwe couldn’t help but get excited about the way the team’s captain, Kemisetso Baloyi, marshalled her troops throughout the tournament.
“It was not ‘Captain Baloyi it was General Baloyi’,” Van der Merwe joked.
“She indeed led by example. Often being the one to make the vital tackle. Every time she had the ball in hand, it was a given that something was going to happen. She scored three brilliant tries in the final. What, however, impressed me was how she continually kept on encouraging her teammates.”
As far as Baloyi is concerned, she was just doing what was expected from her.
“Delta Drone Tuks winning the Varsity tournament was a team effort. Every player stepped up. It was an honour for me to play for a team that made South African student sports history. We played the very first game in the Varsity Women’s 7s tournament as well as being the first champions,” said Baloyi.
“From a women’s sevens rugby perspective, I want to thank the organisers for giving us this opportunity. Hopefully, our tournament will go from strength to strength with more teams participating next year.”
By Wilhelm de Swardt (TuksSport Media)
