Einde van ‘n era by Steinhoff Maties Rugby : 2017-07-17
Die einde van die 2017 Varsitybeker-rugbyreeks het ook die einde van ‘n era by Steinhoff Maties Rugby beteken.
Verskeie spelers wat belangrike lede van die Maties Rugby-gesin was, het in die eindstryd teen Tukkies hul laaste wedstryd in die Maroen gespeel. Party van die spelers gaan voort met hul rugbyloopbane, terwyl ander loopbane weg van die rugbyveld vestig.
Kobus van Dyk (losvoorspeler) wat onlangs sy debuut vir die Stormers gemaak het, sal altyd sy tyd by Maties met ‘n glimlag onthou. “Dit is defnitief een van die beste groepe saam met wie ek al gespeel het…op en af van die veld! Die vriende wat ek gemaak het sal ek altyd hou. Dit was regtig ‘n baie groot voorreg om saam met so ‘n spesiale groep my rugbyloopbaan te kon begin.”
Kyle Steyn en Devon Nash het albei ses maande kontrakte met Griekwas gesluit. “Ek is baie opgewonde oor die vooruitsig van die nuwe avontuur. Ek is gretig om betrokke te raak. Ek het nie nou die kans verwag nie, want ek het nie besef hoe groot die Varsitybeker se invloed is nie. So ek het gehoop vir iets om oor my pad te kom, maar nie so gou nie. Ek het vir myself doelwitte gestel, maar nou wil ek net gaan en my alles gee,” het Steyn gesê.
Oor sy tyd by Maties Steyn het hy bygevoeg: “Maties Rugby het ‘n ongelooflike geskiedenis en om in die Maroen-trui te speel, my eie vriendskappe en herinneringe onder daardie geskiedenis te bou, en om die trots en nalatenskap van Maties Rugby te ervaar, is iets wat ek sal altyd koester.”
Craig Barry, kaptein van die Varsitybeker-span, het ook bygevoeg: “Dit was ‘n pad vol seëninge en lesse. My tyd by Maties het my gevorm om ‘n beter mens te word. ”
Beyers de Villiers, wat ná die eerste wedstryd in die Varsitybeker moes ophou speel weens die gevaar van verdere harsingskudding, fokus nou op sy loopbaan weg van die rugbyveld.
End of an era at Steinhoff Maties Rugby : 2017-07-17
The end of the 2017 Varsity Cup also meant the end of an era at Steinhoff Maties Rugby.
For various players who have been key members of the Maties Rugby family the final against Tuks was their last match. Some of these players are continuing their rugby careers while others are establishing careers away from the rugby field.
Loose-forward Kobus van Dyk who recently made his debut for the Stormers, will always remember his time at Maties with a smile. “It is most certainly one of the best groups I have ever been part of…on and off the field! The friends I have made will last for a lifetime. It was a great privilege to play for Maties and to start my rugby career with such a great group of people.”
Kyle Steyn and Devon Nash both got six-month contracts with Griquas. “I’m extremely excited with the prospect of this new adventure. I’m really keen to get involved. I did not expect this opportunity probably because I did not realise the exposure the Varsity Cup gets. So I hoped for something to come along, but not this quickly. I have set some goals for myself, but for now I just want to get going and give it my all,” said Steyn.
About his time at Maties Steyn said: “Maties Rugby has an incredible history and to be able to play in the Maroon and build my own friendships and memories under that history, and to have experienced the pride and legacy that is Maties Rugby, is something I will always cherish.”
Varsity Cup captain Craig Barry added: “It was a road full of blessings and lessons. My time at Maties shaped me into becoming a better person.”
Beyers de Villiers who retired from rugby after the first match in the Varsity Cup due to the danger of further concussion is now focussing on his career.
Craig, Kobus Maties’ silver lining : 2017-05-04
Craig Barry (Maties No15) with the final try of the game – 2017 Varsity Cup, presented by Steinhoff, FNB and STEERS. Monday 20 February 2017
FNB MATIES vs FNB NNMU-Madibaz at the Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch, Western Cape
Photo by: Liam Hamer Nel
Every dark cloud has a silver lining and for the Maties rugby team it is the individual awards for Kobus van Dyk and Craig Barry.
Maties lost the final of the Varsity Cup in Pretoria against Tuks (21-28). Van Dyk was not only named the Player of the Tournament, but also voted the best forward in the series. Barry was rewarded as the best backline player.
The duo, along with Duncan Saal was also included in the Dream Team that will play against the Junior Springboks in the Danie Craven Stadium on Tuesday. There are also three Maties on the bench. They are Ernst Stapelberg, Michal Haznar and Johan Momsen.
The disappointment was big for Barry and his men. Barry, however, made it clear that the defeat cannot undo the good things that have happened over the past few months.
“The tournament was actually a huge success for us. Several players had the opportunity to prove themselves and were very successful. For us that was not the end which we have worked or planned for, but there are many positive aspects that we can take from the tournament. The Maties jersey is certainly in a better place. We as a team are not defined by the defeat, but by the collective effort we all put in run-up and during the course of the tournament,” Barry said.
For Barry it was his last Varsity Cup. With 42 games he is the player who made the most appearances ever in the series and with his 16 tries – nine in the last series – he is also the Varsity Cup’s leading try-scorer.
Craig, Kobus Maties se silwerrandjie : 2017-05-04
Elke donker wolk het ‘n silwerrandjie en vir die Maties-rugbyspan is dit die individuele toekennings vir Kobus van Dyk en Craig Barry.
Maties het die eindstryd van die Varsitybeker-reeks in Pretoria teen Tukkies met 21-28 verloor. Van Dyk is egter nie net die Speler van die Toernooi nie, maar ook as die beste voorspeler in die reeks aangewys. Barry is as die beste agterspeler beloon.
Die duo is saam met Duncan Saal ook in die toernooi-span ingesluit wat Dinsdag teen die Junior Springbokke in die Danie Craven-stadion speel. Daar is ook drie Maties op die plaasvervangerbank. Hulle is Ernst Stapelberg, Michal Haznar en Johan Momsen.
Die teleurstelling was groot vir Barry en sy manne. Barry het dit egter duidelik gemaak dat die nederlaag nie die goeie dinge wat die afgelope paar maande gebeur het, ongedaan kan maak nie.
“Die toernooi was eintlik ‘n reuse-sukses vir ons gewees. Verskeie spelers het die geleentheid gekry om hulself te bewys en baie was suksesvol. Vir ons as Maties-span was dit natuurlik nie die einde waarvoor ons gewerk of beplan het nie, maar daar is baie positiewe aspekte wat ons uit die toernooi kan neem. Die Maties-trui is beslis in ‘n beter plek. Ons as span word nie gedefinieër deur die nederlaag nie, maar deur die gesamentlike poging wat ons almal ingesit het in aanloop en met die verloop van die toernooi,” het Barry gesê.
Vir Barry was dit sy laaste Varsitybeker-reeks. Hy is met 42 wedstryde die speler wat die meeste verskynings al ooit in die reeks gemaak het en met sy 16 drieë – waarvan nege die afgelope reeks – ook die Varsity Beker se voorste driedrukker.
Momentum van kardinale belang : 2017-02-27
MAties celebrates a well deserved try – 2017 Varsity Cup, presented by Steinhoff, FNB and STEERS. Monday 13 February 2017
FNB MATIES vs FNB NWU-Puk at the Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch, Western Cape
Photo by: Liam Hamer Nel
Na vier wedstryde in die Varsitybeker-rugbyreeks is Maties bo-aan die punteleer.
Maties en Shimlas het albei 14 punte na vier wedstryde, maar Maties is eerste danksy ‘n beter punteverskil. Na die nederlaag teen Tukkies in Pretoria, het Maties met Wits, Pukke en NMMU afgereken.
Braam Venter, kaptein teen Pukke en binnesenter vir Maties, glo dit was baie belangrik om momentum te bou met die drie agtereenvolgende tuiswedstryde. “Behalwe vir die momentum wat ons as span opgebou het met die seges, help dit ook baie met die spelers se selfvertroue met drie weg-wedstryde wat nou wag. Dit was ook nie net belangrik om die drie wedstryde te wen nie, maar ons wou ook baie graag voor ons tuisskare seges behaal.”
Sedert die eerste wedstryd teen Tukkies het verskeie Maties-spelers al beserings opgedoen. Venter was juis kaptein teen Pukke omdat Beyers de Villiers moes uittree nadat hy harsingsskudding teen Tukkies opgedoen het en Craig Barry toe teen Wits beseer is. Gelukkig het Venter die kapteins-ongeluk tot ‘n einde gebring en Barry was weer die afgelope week in aksie.
“Dit breek wel die momentum as daar gereeld beserings in verskillende posisies is, maar die ouens wat van die plaasvervangerbank kom is meer as gereed en bevoeg om die beseerde speler te vervang. Ons is bevoorreg met heelwat diepte in ons groep.”
Maties se volgende wedstryd is Maandag teen Ikeys op die Green Mile. Vir albei spanne is dit altyd meer as net nog ‘n wedstryd. “Wat voorheen gebeur het en tellings van die verlede beteken niks. Almal bring iets ekstra vir die wedstryd,” het Venter beslis gesê.
Na die wedstryd teen Ikeys volg nog twee weg-wedstryde teen Shimlas en CPUT en die laaste wedstryd voor die halfeindronde is in die Danie Craven-stadion teen UJ.
Big 2016 awaits Maties HP : 2016-02-02
The pursuit of USSA- and Varsity titles. This is the focus of the Maties How Performance unit for 2016.
The first Varsity Sports tournament was the second edition of Varsity Cricket last week in Potchefstroom. Steinhoff Maties Cricket – who played in the final last year – finished fifth this time.
Varsity Cup starts on February 8 and the expectations for Maties rugby is huge after recent years’ disappointing performances. In April, it is the Varsity Cup Sevens and shortly thereafter, the Steinhoff Maties men’s hockey team will be in action in the Varsity Hockey series.
Maties Sevens has won the Varsity Cup, but last year failed to make even the semi-finals. A victory in December’s USSA tournament has hopefully given the team the necessary confidence again to tackle the Varsity Cup with the belief that last year was just a slip-up.
This is the fourth year that hockey has a Varsity Series. Maties women’s team won in 2012 and in 2013 the men played in the final against UJ. Last year a very inexperienced women’s team finished fourth.
The High Performance Unit’s Sean Surmon said there are big expectations, but hard work is done to make sure the teams and players are equipped to achieve their goals. “This year is indeed a significant year for Maties Sport with special reference to our Maties Olympic and Paralympic athletes as well as our continued strive for success in the University competitions. Each of these athletes as well as our focus sport codes are supported through the Maties Sport integrated medicine and science support programme, focusing on the health and wellness, performance enhancement and holistic development of our athletes. The Varsity Cricket tournament just finished, Varsity Cup kicks off in two weeks and hot on its heels will be Varsity Sevens. 2016 it set up to be a cracker and we are so excited to be part of it all.”
Varsity Cup fixtures: 8 FEBRUARY – Maties v CUT; FEBRUARY 15 – NMMU v Maties; 22 FEBRUARY – Maties v Tuks; 29 FEBRUARY – UJ v Maties; 7 MARCH – Maties v Shimlas; 14 MARCH – Maties v UCT; MARCH 21 – Pukke v Maties.
AFRIKAANS
Groot 2016 wag op Maties HP
Die strewe na USSA- en Varsity-titels. Dit is die fokus van die Maties Hoe Prestasie-eenhoud vir 2016.
Die eerste Varsity Sport-toernooi van die jaar was verlede week se Varsity Krieket-toernooi in Potchefstroom. Steinhoff Maties – wat verlede jaar in die eindstryd gespeel het – was vyfde.
Die Varsity Beker-rugbyreeks begin op 8 Februarie en die verwagtinge vir Maties Rugby is groot na die afgelope paar jaar se teleurstellende vertonings. In April is dit die Varsity Sewes-toernooi en kort daarna sal die Steinhoff Maties manshokkiespan in die Varsity Hokkie-reeks in aksie wees.
Maties Sewes het al die Varsity-toernooi gewen, maar verlede jaar nie eens die halfeindronde gehaal nie. ‘n Sege in Desember se USSA-toernooi sal die span egter weer die nodige selfvertroue gee om die Varsity-toernooi aan te pak met die geloof dat verlede jaar net ‘n glips was.
Dit is die vierde jaar wat hokkie ‘n Varsity-reeks het. Maties se vroue-span het in 2012 die eerste reeks gewen en in 2013 het die mans in die eindstryd teen UJ gespeel. Verlede jaar was ‘n baie onervare vroue-span vierde.
Sean Surmon van die Hoë Prestasie-eenheid het gesê daar is groot verwagtinge, maar harde werk word ingesit om seker te maak die spanne en spelers is toegerus om hul doelwitte te bereik. “Dit is inderdaad ‘n baie belangrike jaar vir Maties Sport met spesiale verwysing na ons Maties Olimpiese en Paralimpiese atlete asook ons voortdurende strewe na sukses in Universiteitskompetisies. Elke atleet en ook ons fokus-sportkodes word ondersteun deur Maties Sport se mediese en wetenskaplike ondersteuningsprogramme, fokus op gesondheid, prestasie-bevordering en die holistiese ontwikkeling van ons atlete. Die Varsity Beker skop af oor n week en kort daarna is dit Varsity Sewes. Dit gaan ‘n uitsonderlike jaar wees en ons is baie opgewonde.”
Varsity Beker-bepalings: 8 FEBRUARIE – Maties t KUT; 15 FEBRUARIE – NMMU t Maties; 22 FEBRUARIE – Maties t Tukkies; 29 FEBRUARIE – UJ t Maties; 7 MAART – Maties t Shimlas; 14 MAART – Maties t Ikeys; 21 MAART – Pukke t Maties.