Playing as a hooker for the TuksRugby team, the one thing Edwin Till prides himself on is having mastered his lineout throws. 

He can find his "jumpers" throw after throw. It did not just happen. To the 5th-year dentistry student, lineout throws are an art form, meaning you must put in the hard hours to be good. So don't be surprised if, on any given morning or late afternoon, you see a big guy on the Tuks rugby field throwing the ball against the poles time after time, striving to be more accurate each time. His goal is to ingrain the technique in his muscle memory. 

Ensuring that Tuks wins lineouts is not Till's only skill. He is equally adept at scoring tries. In his last three games for Tuks, he dotted down seven times. It makes him Tuks's top try scorer. 

Till laughs when being told this, to him, rugby is not really about such personal statistics. He and his teammates are on a mission. That is to restore TuksRugby pride. To get the team back to play Varsity Cup rugby. The fact that Tuks has now won six games on the trot in the Varsity Shield Tournament counts for nothing. 

"We take it game for game. Not a week has passed in which we warn each other not to get complacent. The aim is to only relax after the whistle has blown for one last time in the Varsity Shield final. Then it will be mission accomplished."

Surprisingly, Till is new to playing Varsity rugby. He did play a few games in 2022, but mainly as a substitute. He missed out on playing for most of last year due to a stress fracture in his right leg. 

Till genuinely relishes the challenges that come with playing hooker. Apart from ensuring he is spot on with his throwing, he believes in being in the midst of the action. 

"I am a fan of the way how Malcolm Marx plays. I admire how he can 'steal' the ball on the ground. I have been working hard to be able to do so as well. As I am one of the big guys, I love to have the ball in hand to gain metres for the team."

Last Friday, the Tuks outplayed TUT to win 81-10, scoring 13 tries. Kyle Cyster, known for his fleet-footed footwork, dived over three times. His heroics did not go unnoticed. He got the Player That Rocks Award.

On Friday, April 12, Tuks is playing Madibaz. It could be a dress rehearsal for the Varsity Shield showdown, as they are the only two unbeaten teams in the competition. Kickoff is at 15:00.