Defending champs, TuksRugby heads into their USSA opening match against The KZN Impi’s with their hearts set on #EarningTheirStripe and qualifying for the final. The match is set kick-off at 14:00 on the 29^th of June 2015 at the UJ WestSport facilities.

In preparation for the USSA games, the full team played in the Carlton Cup fixtures against Centurion and Naka Bulle on the 20th and 23^rd of June respectively. The team also had a team building camp at a game farm near Rooiberg in Limpopo

Pote Human, Head Coach of the TuksRugby USSA team, says though they have never successfully defended the USSA title, the 2015 squad, an even stronger outfit than last year seems have mastered how to get the most out of their match day squad and will put up a tough challenge.

"We have never won the USSA title back to back. After beating UJ in the final in Grahamstown last year, we have set our target on defending our championship title successfully. We have a great team with exciting players. They know it will not be easy as we are the defending champions and people expect us to do well. We will be under pressure from the very first minute, but only need to play the structured rugby that became our trade mark in the 2015 Carlton League. A composed and disciplined team is hard to beat. Of note is that, for the first time in TuksRugby's history, we will be fielding a team of truly gifted students one player busy is busy with a Master’s degree in Zoology, four with Honours degrees, whilst seven others will finish their undergraduate studies at the end of 2015. Also for the first time ever we have siblings in our team: Theuns and Abri Reynolds."

Emile Temperman, the team captain said "I am honoured and privileged to be leading this campaign and such a proud band of brothers,  who are all 100 % committed to keep on giving, even if the tank should run dry. We have a very good chance of making the final, but at this stage we dare not look further than the first match against the Impi's. Even our best meant intentions will come to nothing if we do not start well."

The team will also play on Wednesday 1^st and Friday the 5^th of July. The times and opponents however, will only be made available after the Day 1 results. If things go as planned the team are to play Maties in the semis and hope to go against either Pukke or UJ in the final.