The Varsity Cup highlights five stars from the 2021 tournament who have made the step up to professional rugby in recent months.
Cohen Jasper: CUT to Cheetahs
Jasper scored seven tries in the 2021 Varsity Cup, including the match-winner in CUT Ixias’ inaugural win over Maties.
The hot-stepping fullback caught the eye of Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie, who compared the 20-year-old to Springbok superstar Cheslin Kolbe. At the end of the season, following a public vote, Jasper was named the Overall Player That Rocks.
As a schoolboy, Jasper represented the HTS Drostdy 1st XV and harboured dreams of becoming a professional player. A serious injury compromised those ambitions – until he was given an opportunity to shine in the Varsity Cup.
After lighting up the 2021 tournament, Jasper was offered a contract with the Free State Cheetahs. He made his Currie Cup debut for the Bloemfontein-based side in the round-two clash with Griquas.
Tinotenda Mavesere: UWC to Sharks
Mavesere’s powerful displays on attack and defence earned him a cult following during the 2021 Varsity Cup. At the conclusion of the tournament, fans voted the explosive UWC back rower the Forward That Rocks.
Just like Test rugby icon Beast Mtawarira, the Zimbabwean-born Mavesere began his rugby journey at Churchill School in Harare. He represented his country at U20 level before making his debut for the Sables in 2019.
Mavesere followed in Mtawarira’s footsteps when he accepted an offer to join the Sharks.
Big things are expected from the man they call ‘Driller’ in this year’s Currie Cup, and in the United Rugby Championship.
Munier Hartzenberg: Maties to Griquas
Hartzenberg crossed the tryline five times over the course of the 2021 season. After the tournament, the elusive Maties wing was voted the Back That Rocks.
Hartzenberg represented Rangers FC in Cape Town before he joined Western Province’s junior structures. He went on to become one of Maties’ most dangerous attacking players in later years.
More recently, Hartzenberg was contracted by Griquas and backed to make his Currie Cup debut in the 2022 tournament opener against the Cheetahs. Griquas have a new coach this season in former CUT Ixias mentor Pieter Bergh.
Zander du Plessis: UP-Tuks to Griquas
2021 was a monumental year for Du Plessis. The sharpshooting UP-Tuks fullback scored 157 points to smash Demetri Catrakilis’ record of 136 in a Varsity Cup season.
Du Plessis claimed three Player That Rocks awards over the course of the competition, and was nominated for the Back That Rocks prize.
Du Plessis starred at flyhalf for Grey College during an unforgettable 2018 season. Grey finished that year unbeaten and were subsequently recognised as the top-ranked school in South Africa. As one of that team’s star performers, Du Plessis went on to represent Tuks and the Bulls U21 side.
Du Plessis signed a two-year deal with Griquas ahead of the 2021 Varsity Cup playoffs. The 21-year-old utility back made his debut for the Kimberley-based side in the first round of the 2022 Currie Cup.
Lusanda Xakwana: TUT to Valke
Xakwana racked up 112 points for TUT in the 2021 Varsity Shield to become the tournament’s all-time leading point-scorer (225).
The flyhalf-cum-fullback won three Player That Rocks awards, and was nominated for the Back of the Tournament and Overall Player of the Tournament awards.
Xakwana played for Border at the U18 Academy Week and U18 Craven Week. He went on to represent the union in the SA Rugby U20 Championship.
After starring for WSU between 2017 and 2019, and then TUT across the 2020 and 2021 seasons, he spent some time with Polish club Lechia Gdańsk.
The 25-year-old recently returned to South Africa to take up a contract with the Valke in the Currie Cup First Division.
