UCT will be relying on experience as they aim to challenge some of the top teams for the Varsity Sevens title this year.
Having finished a disappointing seventh place in the last edition at Camps Bay in December 2013, head coach Christiaan Esterhuizen is hoping that his charges will put up a bigger fight.
“In terms of experience, some of our guys are playing in their fifth or sixth tournament now. We will be a bit stronger than we were in Camps Bay,” Esterhuizen told varsitysportssa.com.
“In terms of prep, it is not ideal. However, we can rely on having a bit more experience and being a bit more street smart on what to expect in the tournament.”
Between the Varsity Cup tournaments and the WP Club Rugby League, Esterhuizen says preparations for the Sevens team has been disrupted a bit because of the availability of some players.
“Preparations has been challenging mainly because of Varsity Cup and the Young Guns only finishing up their campaigns ten days ago. So preparation have only started this week for the Sevens.
“To fit Varsity Sevens in between the league and the Varsity Cup has been quite challenging. It is not ideal but we are preparing in the limited time we have,” he said.
Varsity Cup players – Richard Stewart, Paul Cohen, Thomas Bednall and Stephen Wallace will be available for the Sevens team according to Esterhuizen, who is still banking on a few more Ikeys starlets to join the team ahead of April 25-27 tournament.
Esterhuizen revealed that with the 15-man game being the top priority at UCT, he might struggle to field his strongest team in the tournament.
“Maties have a Sevens culture and they will be strong. Stellenbosch University made a collective decision that the best 12-15 players in the club will play Sevens, while UCT did not make that call.
“We decided to put preference to league. I can’t field my strongest team, but I know Maties can do that. Kovsies will be difficult as well as they always got pace. Tuks won the USSA tournament in December so they will be right up there. Those teams will be the strongest,” he added.
Esterhuizen said he will be looking forward to the tough Cape derbies against Maties, who are the defending champions, and against UWC.
“We play them often in warm-up matches and it is always good to play against them. UWC are a good Sevens team – they won the Villagers tournament last year and they definitely a team that can go all the way. The Cape derbies will be hard,” Esterhuizen added.
