“Operation Restore the Pride” starts on Friday in Alice when Tuks take to the field to play the University of Fort Hare in the Varsity Shield Tournament.
Many expect Tuks to be unstoppable in the tournament and that they will be back in the Varsity Cup next year.
Allistair Williams (Tuks co-captain) is not one to take anything for granted.
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“As a team, we had a long, hard talk about playing in the Varsity Shield Tournament. We know it will not be a case of pitching up and winning. The other teams are as hungry to win. The goal for everyone is to qualify for the Varsity Cup. So we aim to be at our best for every game.”
Williams is one of the veterans on the Tuks side. During the last two years, he experienced the best and the worst of what it is like to play for Tuks. In 2022, Tuks was crowned Varsity Cup champions. Last year was one of the bleakest in the history of Tuks rugby. The team lost seven games on the trot in the Varsity Cup Tournament. It led to them being relegated to the Varsity Shield.
“It was a bitter pill to swallow. But I was not totally surprised. The warning signs were already there in 2022 but were ignored because we were winning. Last year, when we started losing, there was no escaping the truth. We have dealt with the issue thanks to our current coaches, who have gone the extra mile. All of us are on the same page, and that is to win no matter what it takes. We owe it to Tuks.”
Williams plays hooker. According to him, he does not believe he will ever be able to play any other position.
“I started to play hooker from under-12, and I have grown into the role. I am not the biggest of hookers. Still, it is important to me to have a physical presence on the field. The one thing I will never do is rely on brute strength alone, as I am not a fan of ‘stampkar rugby’. As a New Zealand rugby fan, I like using skills like fleet-footedness to outfox opponents.”
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When Williams says he is a fan of New Zealand rugby, he means it. He was supporting the All Blacks during last year’s World Cup Tournament. It is a family thing, and he is keeping with the tradition. Williams admits that it is not always easy.
“All of my Tuks teammates and friends are Springbok supporters. When the Boks won, they really had a go at me. Even afterwards, I was taunted. I did not take exception as the Boks were the better team. The one thing I know is that the All Blacks will win again.”
Being captain is totally new to Williams.
“I have never captained a team. To do so now for Tuks is a tremendous honour. I am not really going to do anything different. I will do what I always do: play my heart out. Motivating teammates comes naturally to me as I have a lot of energy on the field. The important thing is to ensure that Ethan Burger (co-captain) and I are on the same page. As it is said, two heads are better than one.”‘
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