Defending Carlton Cup champions UP-Tuks 1 has paid a heavy price for their 71-0 win against TUT on Tuesday as their best loose forward, flanker Dwight Pansegrouw sustained serious facial injuries and had to be rushed to hospital where he underwent extensive reconstructive surgery on Wednesday.

Pansegrouw, who has been UP-Tuks’ Man of the Match in two of their five first round matches, broke his nose, both his cheekbones and was also concussed in the particular brutal tackle in the first half. He spent the night in the High Care unit of the Pretoria-East hospital because as he was completely disorientated at admission.

UP-Tuks 1 Head Coach Pote Human described Pansegrouw’s injury as “most unfortunate and a serious setback. Replacing a player of his stature will not be easy, but we are encouraged by the possibility that his season might not be at an end.”

On his team’s performance Human commented: “Where are still not where we want to be, but gave a glimpse of our true potential with the rugby we played in the latter part of both halves. Scoring 11 tries to none is no easy feat, but these statistics will be long forgotten once we start preparing for our next match (Saturday at TuksRugby B against Oostelikes Eagles). They (Eagles) have a 75% success rate in the first round and will not be a rollover at all. We will have to make a step-up from where we finished against TUT.”

UP-Tuks’ tries were scored by Riaan Britz (3), Kefentse Mahlo (2), Jade Stighling (2), Marcel Steyn Scholtz, Lourens Pretorius and Heinrich Els. Referee Johan van der Merwe also awarded a penalty try to UP-Tuks. Jacques Rossouw succeeded with eight conversions.