Starting Sunday, Tuks, the defending champions of Varsity Netball, will aim to achieve what no previous Tuks team has managed: to successfully defend their title.

Tuks boasts an impressive Varsity Netball record, having won the tournament three times (2017, 2019, and 2023). Only Kovsies, with four titles, has outperformed them. Both Kovsies (2013 and 2014) and North-West University (2015 and 2016) have successfully defended their titles.

However, Tuks stands out as the only team to go undefeated in the tournament, achieving this feat in both 2019 and 2023. With ten players from last year's victorious squad returning to action, Tuks is the favourite on paper to reach the final. Additionally, Tuks clinched the USSA Netball title in July, further solidifying their standing.

The TuksNetball head coach, Erin Burger, is not one to speculate as to what might happen or not happen. She does not believe in complicating things.

"It is easy to say that you want to win. The challenge is how you go about doing so. To do so means there has to be a plan, and then you must make sure you tick all the right boxes.

"After the USSA Netball Championships, we analysed all our games. We have picked up that the players need to improve their ball retention from turnovers and centre passes. I want it to be close to 80%. The players are close to it when it comes to centre passes. We, however, tend to lose the ball after a turnover. We can't have it. We must get the ball to the circle and score when we win a turnover. We have focused on it during the buildup to the Varsity Tournament.

Her advice to the Tuks’ newcomers to the Varsity Netball tournament, Burger said, "I want them to enjoy themselves on the court. Young players tend to be fearless when they play. If they can do so starting Sunday, they could win games for us."

Last year, Phophi Nematangari was crowned as the Players’ Player of the Tournament. Now as a seasoned Varsity campaigner, Nematangari admits that she and her teammates will be under pressure. 

"But I don't think it is a bad thing. It means we won't be complacent. Going into the tournament, we must be consistent in everything we do."

Playing as a defender, Nematangari considers her best trait to be able to motivate her teammates during crunch situations.

"I'm that one player who, when things are bad, can bring everyone back together and say, come. Let's go. We can still do this."

According to the third-year BCom student, there is never only one team to beat in the tournament. 

"Every game comes with its unique challenges. What makes it difficult is that teams change from one tournament to the next. Therefore, I expect several teams to be competitive this time."

See the 2024 Varsity Netball fixtures HERE!