Q&A with Stoffel Duvenage

An experienced member of the Pukke forward machine, varsitycup.co.za caught up with hooker Stoffel Duvenage to find out more about him... and life in Potchefstroom.

Duvenage - who has featured for 'The Puk in 2008, 2009 and 2010 - is one of those real hard men in the Varsity Cup and when it becomes hard and tough, you'll normally find this hooker in the middle of the action; exactly where he likes it!

He was richly rewarded for an outstanding Varsity Cup campaign last year by being picked for the South African Universities team that took on America in a two-match series last year and, as one would expect, he was one of the team's stars.

Stoffel was also instrumental in Pukke's good form in 2009 when they made it all the way to the final - where they eventually lost out against the Maties in Stellenbosch.

varsitycup.co.za caught up with him:
 
(1) Varsity Cup (VC): Hi Stoffel - thanks for chatting to us! Tell us, what do/did you study?
Stoffel Duvenhage (SD): "Hello Varsity Cup, my pleasure! B.Ed Tegnika."

(2) VC: Is there anyone in the family that is (or was) also good at rugby - or any sport for that matter?
SD: "My uncle, Braam Duvenhage, played for SA Schools back in his day."

(3) VC: What Varsity Cup side do you most enjoy playing against and why?
SD: "Maties. They are always one of those teams you want to beat in a tournament."

(4) VC: Do you have any nicknames apart from Stoffel?
SD: "No, only Stoffel!"

(5) VC: Do you have any superstitions regarding rugby?
SD: "Nope."

(6) VC: Do you have a personal goal for the Varsity Cup?
SD: "To make one of the Varsity Cup cheerleaders my girlfriend! Only joking - I have only one love."

(7) VC: What is your biggest disappointment of your rugby career thus far?
SD: "Losing narrowly to Maties in last year's Varsity Cup Final."

(8) VC: Which coach has had the biggest influence on your career up till now?
SD: "I have always been privileged to play under great coaches all my life."
 
(9) VC: What can we further expect from your team in 2010 and how do you think they will perform?
SD: "I strongly believe we will end up in the semifinals and still have a good chance of winning the competition."

(10) VC: What's your biggest embarrassment on the field, if any?
SD: "There is only one - it happened in 2008 just a few of my teammates know about it... And that is how it is going to stay, so let's just leave it at that!"

By Ruan Bruwer