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Who will be South African rugby’s next Young Gun to emulate Lood de Jager when the 2016 Varsity Cup kicks off tomorrow evening?
That will be a question occupying the minds of provincial coaches as they run the rule over the cream of the country’s student talent.
Early in the 2012 season, big Lodewyk de Jager was playing for the North West University’s under-20s in the Varsity Cup Young Guns competition.
Two years later, on June 14, 2014, he was making his debut (off the bench) for the Springboks against Wales in Durban at the age of 21.
The lanky youngster with the baby face was spotted in the minor competition by then Free State Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské and offered a chance in the big leagues.
Even though De Jager had seemingly been overlooked by his age-group coaches, Drotské spotted his height, weight, work-rate and palpable joy at getting involved in the rough and tumble and his gut feel was soon rewarded.
Fellow lock Bok Eben Etzebeth made a similar step up by turning out for the UCT Ikeys, as did Damian de Allende, while Oupa Mohojé also grabbed his chance with the Free State Shimlas.
Josh Strauss went from the Maties to captaining the Lions to a Currie Cup victory and then on to being capped for Scotland while a number of other Springboks have seen student action.
Brainchild of former Springbok captain Francois Pienaar, the Varsity Cup, and its subsidiary competitions the Varsity Shield, the Young Guns and the Koshuis competition, has been a huge success; slotting in on Monday nights and providing players who might have slipped through the net a chance to excel.
In tomorrow night’s main game, 2014 winners Ikeys will take on defending champions Shimlas at the Green Mile on the UCT campus.
