Bragging rights for UWC as alumni part of Bok team

UWC has extended its congratulations to the Springboks for winning the Rugby World Cup (RWC), stating how proud it was of the champions and, more especially, the five UWC alumni who were part of the team.

The five former UWC students who were part of the Springboks’ RWC team are scrum-half and nominee for the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year award, Herschel Jantjies; physiotherapists Tanushree Pillay and Rene Naylor; the first black president of the Western Province Rugby Union, Toby Titus; and the first female member of the South African Rugby Union executive council, Ilhaam Groenewald.

“As UWC, we are buoyed by the contribution by our alumni.

“This moment in our history – underscored by the first black Springbok captain, Siya Kolisi, leading the team to victory – is a pinnacle moment for our country,” said UWC vice-chancellor Tyrone Pretorius.

He said UWC’s late rugby coach and Springbok icon, Chester Williams, had been emphatic that South Africa would lift the Webb Ellis Cup.

Pillay was on the side-line when the Springboks beat England 32-12 in Yokohama, Japan during the final on Saturday.

“The moment on the podium with the whole team was most memorable,” she said.

“We’ve been together for 20 weeks and that moment was filled with elation and the culmination of the work the team had put in,” she said.

Pillay said her father, Sundru Pillay, had phoned her straight after the Springboks won the RWC.

“My parents were ecstatic!

“It definitely takes a village to be able to do this job; my friends and family have been my pillars of strength and I am so happy to bring this honour to them,” she said.