MJ Nel, affectionately known as "Dominee," is a gentle giant of the TuksRugby Club—but on the field, he likes to dominate his opponents. The 1.83m, 130kg loosehead prop earned his nickname from his theology studies at UP-Tuks.

On Monday against UCT Ikeys in Cape Town, Nel upheld the proud Tuks loosehead prop tradition established by Ethan Burger last year, bulldozing over the line to score his first-ever try in the FNB Varsity Cup. In last year’s FNB Varsity Shield, Burger made a habit of scoring in almost every match. Now, Nel looks set to follow suit.

Reflecting on the moment, Nel admitted he was overcome by mixed emotions when he realized he had scored his first Varsity Cup try. "There was a moment of confusion," he said.

"When I looked up, I saw the referee towering above me with his arm in the air. I wondered if he was awarding Tuks a try or a penalty kick. Only when he walked away did I realise it was a try. That's when I was overcome with emotion."

Several years ago, a well-known minister in Pretoria was an avid tennis player. One Saturday afternoon, the minister uttered a swear word when things on the court were not going as he had hoped. Everyone who overheard the minister was shocked. How could a minister dare to curse?

It is a well-known fact that things get rough in a rugby match. Often, there are times when tempers run high. When Nel was asked if he had ever lost his temper during a rugby match, he referred to the game against UJ.

"I got involved in a shoving and pushing altercation between the forwards. Afterwards, people who knew I was studying theology wanted to know how I justified my actions. I explained to them that even though I was studying theology, at the end of the day, I was like they are an ordinary human being. But know that losing my temper during a rugby match is the last thing on my to-do list as a player."

Nel has played as a prop almost since he first touched a rugby ball. Until last year, he was a tighthead. It is only this year that he has become a loosehead. For him, it does not matter which side of the scrum he falls on. He compares the battle of strength against his opponent in the scrum to a game of chicken.

"It is a case of seeing who can go down the lowest and who is the first to give in."

How does he relax?

"After a difficult day, all I long for is to relax with a beer or a cup of coffee and have a good conversation with friends or family. The last thing I want to discuss is rugby or my studies."

Just as a matter of interest, how many ministers do you know who went on to play rugby for the Springboks? Two names immediately come to mind: Dawie de Villiers and Darius Botha.