Wits Rugby Take on the Varsity Shield!
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The Wits Rugby Team has taken off with a dramatic start against Walter Sisulu University in the 2026 Varsity Shield campaign.
The Witsies charged forward and secured a draw after coming back from behind against the home side. The game ended with split points between the two teams after a 27-27 draw at Sisa Dukashe Stadium. Tensions are high and the excitement is palpable as the second-round dawns on the team, and captain Latica Nela shared his thoughts on the campaign.
Nela is the first team captain and full back of the of the rugby team. He captained the club through their preparations and first game of the tournament and he handled this role with the precision and care that it needed. Him and the team took the prep time seriously and used it to ensure that they were a well-oiled machine prior to the first game.
“The preparation was extremely hard. We had a 4-and-a-half-month preseason which challenged the boys both physically and mentally. Having said that, the boys took the challenges that were given and worked extremely hard at becoming better individually as well as within the team setup,” he said.
The team showed this preparation by completing their first clash with a draw, after trailing at halftime. This show of character is something they are hopeful to bring forward into their future games. They committed themselves to relying on discipline, work rate and attention to detail over just talent, and this was their recipe to finding their footing in the campaign.
“Our takeouts from the game last week Friday were that if we aren't on top of our game every single minute of every single match, we'll find ourselves chasing a lot of the games. Having said that, I have to give credit to my boys for how they fought back in that last 20 minutes, it showed a lot of character and determination to not accept the situation we were in. The way we fought back in that last 20 minutes is exactly what people can expect from us going forward for the remainder of the tournament. That was a big wake-up call and trust me, we woke up.”
Prior to the clash against Fort Hare University, the team is feeling enthusiastic and prepared. Having noted their areas of concern and rectifying them, they are ready to take on the challenge and highlight their expertise and training.
Nela and his team aim to take on their competition with tenacity and passion, showcasing their own unique brand of rugby and forcing their opposition to join them. They have solidified their vision and they are dead set on staking their claim in this Cup and the ones that follow. We wish them luck ahead of their future clashes at the Varsity Shield and beyond.