Welcome back boytjies

A cloud of blue and white foil streamers and chants to "a-U, a-U, a-UCT" engulfed Jammie Plaza as our 'boytjies' took the stage on 14 April to be welcomed back from their recent Varsity Cup victory in Pretoria. Vice-chancellor, Dr Max Price, was on hand to welcome the triumphant Ikey Tigers back to campus, while deputy vice-chancellor Professor Crain Soudien presented the trophy to a rightly pleased team.

Sporting glory: Among the players and backroom staff from the UCT Rugby Club who enjoyed their lunch with the minister of sport and recreation, Fikile Mbalula (centre, holding trophy), were (from left) Gavin Sheldon (general manager), Lisa Brown (first-team manager), Kevin Foote (coach), Nick Fenton-Wells (captain), Don Armand, Wesley Chetty, Dugald Macdonald (club president) and Adrian Kritzinger.

Eye of the tiger: Ikey Tigers' captain, Nick Fenton-Wells, receives the Varsity Cup from Dr Max Price (far left) and Prof Crain Soudien (right), as the rest of the squad join in on the celebrations.

"We've waited for this for four years," said Ikey Tiger flanker, Don Armand. "The feeling of winning is freakin' satisfying."

You can forgive the players a slight strut in their step. And their fans likewise.

"We're immensely proud," said science student Thembinkosi Mpofu.

"It's just a shame that we had to win there," added business-science student Adam Kotzen. "We followed most the games here, but had no way to get to Pretoria for the final."

It hasn't just been UCT celebrating the Tigers' win. Just before the Jammie Plaza gathering, Jan Greyling, president of the Students' Representative Council at Stellenbosch University, congratulated the new champions on keeping the trophy in the Western Cape.

And on 13 April, the team enjoyed lunch with the minister of sport and recreation, Fikile Mbalula, at a Cape Town hotel.