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30 October 2019 | Story Ruan Bruwer | Photo Sonia Small
Springboks
Prof Francis Petersen, UFS Rector and Vice-Chancellor, paid a special visit to the Springboks in 2018 before they faced England in Bloemfontein. From the left are Jacques Nienaber (Springbok assistant coach), Oupa Mohoje (Springbok), Prof Petersen, Rassie Erasmus (Springbok head coach), and Swys de Bruin (Springbok consultant coach at the time). De Bruin, Erasmus, Nienaber, and Mohoje are all Kovsie alumni.

Like the rest of the country, we are behind our Springboks all the way. This is what Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State (UFS), told alumnus Rassie Erasmus in a letter this week.

Prof Petersen wrote the letter to Erasmus, the head coach of the Springboks, to wish him everything of the best in the team’s preparation and for the game on Saturday (2 November 2019) at which they face England in the Rugby World Cup final in Japan.

"On behalf of the staff and students of the University of the Free State, I would like to wish you and the Springbok team all the best with your preparations this week and for the final. I know that Saturday’s match will be played with vigour and determination,” Prof Petersen wrote.

Prof Petersen said the UFS community was extremely proud of the Springboks’ achievements during the 2019 Rugby World Cup – especially with Erasmus at the helm of the team. The Boks defeated Japan in the quarter-final and Wales in the semi-final to reach their first final since 2007.

“As a former Shimla player and Kovsie Alumnus of the Year 1998, we are truly proud of what you have achieved during your career in South African rugby, and especially during the World Cup tournament. We are also proud of our other alumni – Jacques Nienaber as defence coach, and referee Jaco Peyper.”

Peyper refereed one of the quarter-finals and will be an assistant referee in the bronze medal play-off between New Zealand and Wales on 1 November 2019.

Under Erasmus the Springboks won the Rugby Championship this year, the first time since 2010. Erasmus and Nienaber have a long relationship. They met in the army in 1991. Later Nienaber served as physiotherapist with the Shimlas and Erasmus captained the team. They worked together at the Cheetahs, Cats, Stormers, Munster and now the Springboks.

News Archive

Bok jersey – Oupa’s next goal
2014-05-22

Former Shimla captain and 2013 Varsity Cup player that Rocks, Teboho Oupa Mohoje, was recently added to the 36-man Springbok training squad for the coming 2014 mid-year international tests.

Teboho already achieved his goal for 2014 when he earned himself Super Rugby caps with the Cheetahs. Next, he has set his sights on becoming a regular with the Boks.

“I found out a week before the announcement was made,” says Oupa. “When [Cheetahs] coach Naka [Drotske] told me, I was actually shocked and had no reaction. I even asked him if he was serious. But it all started to sink in when the announcement was made public.”

This star on the rise is actually better known as Oupa – as he was dubbed by his primary school coach who noticed he had grey hair. Oupa used to study BAgric and now studies Human Movement Sciences at Kovsies, although he does not play Varsity rugby anymore.

“I’ve learnt a lot. I made good mates like Willie Britz [now playing for the Lions] and Freddie Ngoza. I have a lot of great memories and all-in-all it was a good learning curve,” he fondly sums up his time as a Varsity rugby player.

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