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Shimlas starts Varsity Cup with experienced team

03 February 2020 | Story Ruan Bruwer | Photo Varsity Cup

William Eybers read more — Centre William Eybers is the new captain of the Shimlas.

With an experienced squad at its disposal, the Shimla team is approaching the 2020 Varsity Cup with confidence – despite a very difficult first assignment.

The 13th version of the student rugby competition starts on Monday (3 February), with the University of the Free State team travelling to Stellenbosch to face the champions of the previous two years, Maties.

The Shimlas retained 19 players from last year’s team. This is compared to the previous two campaigns where they had little experience and a bunch of very young players. Head coach Hendro Scholtz can call upon ten players who have played in this competition before and who know what it is all about.
Even more important is that the ten senior men are playing in key positions, such as the hooker (Hanno Snyman), eighth man (Mihlali Peter and Bertie de Bod), scrumhalf (Rewan Kruger), and fullback (Ruan Henning). Snyman will participate in his fourth Varsity Cup.

The Shimlas have a new leader in centre William Eybers in 2020. He was named joint best backline player for 2019 at last year’s Shimla Rugby Club prize-giving ceremony.
The Shimlas won four of their eight matches in 2019 to book in spot in the semi-finals against Maties.

Monday’s encounter starts at 19:15 in the Danie Craven Stadium. The match will be broadcast live on SuperSport. The remaining Shimla fixtures are: 10 February against UWC (home), 17 February against NWU (away), 24 February against Tuks (away), 2 March against Ixias (home), 9 March against UJ (home), 16 March against Ikeys (away), 30 March against Wits (home).

News Archive

Six Kovsies included in Mail & Guardian’s top 200

2017-07-28

The Protea Karla Mostert, who is busy with her master’s degree
in Dietetics at the UFS, experienced a wonderful year
on the netball court. Photo: Johan Roux

Being on the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans list for 2017, gives her a platform to share with South Africa what she does. This is according to Candice Thikeson. “I want to inspire people to follow their passion and pursue their dreams, and Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans allows me to do so.”

The art historian, who is included in the Arts & Entertainment category, is one of six current and former students of the University of the Free State (UFS) featured in the prestigious list. The others are Zola Valashiya (Civil Society), Lerato Machetela (Education), Thapelo Mokoatsi (Film and Media), Karla Mostert (Sport), and Nokuthula Sithole (Politics & Government).

Every year, the Mail & Guardian honours exceptional young citizens under the age of 35 who has made an impact in their respective fields. A special event for this year’s chosen ones was hosted at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg on 29 June 2017.

Making a statement for art historians
Thikeson, a Mandela Rhodes Scholar, Bright Young Mind, and recipient of the Abe Bailey Travel Bursary, says she feels honoured. “To me, this means that the impact I am making in the arts is being felt. There are very few art historians in South Africa, and because of this, people don’t often know what this profession entails.”

Inspiring people from all walks of life
She says the reaction from friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances have been overwhelming. “The most heart-warming thing for me has been having men tell me that I inspire them. As women, we are often told that we are inspirations for little girls, but women can and do inspire, challenge, and motivate men too.”
She was appointed as a junior lecturer in the Department of Art History at the UFS in January. This, and being a Mandela Rhodes Scholar, is some of her career highlights. She is also enrolled for a research master’s degree in Art History and Image Studies.

UFS students on the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans list:
• Zola Valashiya (Civil Society) – Co-founder and director, Debate Afrika
• Lerato Machetela (Education) – Psychologist
• Thapelo Mokoatsi (Film and Media) – Historian and academic
• Karla Mostert (Sport) – Netball player
• Nokuthula Sithole (Politics & Government) – Activist
• Candice Thikeson (Arts & Entertainment) – Art historian

View the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans here.

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