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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

University of Leeds professor an inspiration
2016-09-19

Description: Academic Conversation  Tags: Academic Conversation

Prof Shirley Anne Tate, Associate Professor
at the University of Leeds; Eddie de Wet and
Emme-Lancia Faro, both from Student
Communities; Pura Mgolombane, Dean of
Student Affairs; and Dr WP Wahl, Assistant
Director of Student Communities.
Photo: Qhamani Tshazi

Prof Shirley Anne Tate from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom inspired students at the second Academic Conversation held at the University of the Free State on the Bloemfontein Campus.

“Academics such as Prof Tate play a vital role in building bridges between students with high demands of ‘transformation’ and university managements that struggle to meet students halfway.”

These were the words of Jani Swart, current Primaria of Welwitschia residence, who attended the dialogue session. She said, however, she wished that more students had the opportunity and willingness to be guided by Prof Tate.

Prof Tate is an Associate Professor in Race and Culture at the Centre for Ethnicity and Racism Studies, School of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Leeds. She is also a visiting Professor and Research Fellow at the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice at UFS.

Professor Tate captivated the students when she addressed them on the topic of Wellbeing in Higher Education Institutions.

The Academic Conversation was hosted by the Office of Student Affairs on 1 August 2016.

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