TUT 'better prepared' in 2010

FNB TUT Vikings forwards coach Jimmy Watt is confident that his charges are better prepared for the 2010 Varsity Cup than they were for last year's tournament - where they had the dubious honour of collecting the Wooden Spoon.

All in all, last season's Varsity Cup was a year to forget for the Men from Tshwane - but they have certainly learnt plenty of lessons from their winless 2009 campaign.

"As I have said before on numerous occasions, I never want this team to be involved in a promotion/relegation game again and I am convinced that we have prepared much better for 2010 than we did for 2009," Watt told varsitycup.co.za.

"We have more players available and everything, both on and off the field, just seems in place better.

"Look," he added, "this is still a young team, but the quality of this playing squad excites me a lot and I'm expecting this group to challenge very strong in two years' time."

This TUT squad has been training since October 1, 2009 - they did have almost a month off between December 10 and January 4 - and Watt and co. are looking forward to their season-opener against UJ next Monday.

"It's not the first time we'll be starting our Varsity Cup campaign against UJ," he said.

"What's nice, however, is that this is basically a home game for us with the match being played at Tukkies' LC de Villiers Stadium."

Watt has been the heartbeat of this university's rugby side for some time now.

However, given the pressures he faces as the club's Rugby Manager - along with the duties of being head coach - he has officially handed over the head coach's reins to backline guru Alex de Kock

He explained: "Alex was basically running the show last season, but we thought it would be best for everyone if he took over, officially, as head coach."

Of course, the slight management tweak aside, TUT will also be playing their rugby under a new badge this year; with the formation of the TUT Vikings - a 'sexier' and more exciting team for the students of Tshwane University of Technology to support.

"There is a wonderful new energy at the club," enthused Watt.

"A lot of young, talented players want to play Varsity Cup rugby for us and we want them to help spread the TUT Vikings brand to the next generation of players and students.

"The marketing has taken a step up with the students returning to university this year and we cannot wait to get out there and let the Vikings build up a huge support base in the 2010 Varsity Cup!"