Tuks will host the Varsity Cup final at Tuks Stadium next Monday night after a resounding win over UJ in the second semi-final.
The Pretoria side ran in seven tries to record a convincing 53-34 victory over their Gauteng rivals.
It was a fast and frantic start, with both sides showing early attacking intent before the Orange Army struck first.
A slick passage of play between fullback Juandré Uithaler and winger Tholithemba Sibisi opened the door, with Sibisi stepping his way over in the third minute for the game’s opening try.
The Orange Army fire the first shots in under 4 min! @UJ_Sport send it wide and Tholithemba Sibisi hugs the touchline for the opener to stun the home crowd!#RugbyThatRocks #WhosNXT pic.twitter.com/4yzXc4NgTS
— Varsity Cup (@varsitycup) April 6, 2026
Tuks responded in the 20th minute to lift the home crowd. Centre Kobus Janse van Rensburg sliced through the line before sending winger Munashe Dukuswa away to level matters.
The equaliser from Duks
! The @TuksSport Stripe Generation pressure pays off as Kobus Janse van Rensburg breaks the tackle and unleashes Munashe Dukuswa to the try line.#RugbyThatRocks #WhosNXT pic.twitter.com/UVOnzWm1jg
— Varsity Cup (@varsitycup) April 6, 2026
UJ’s discipline, however, began to cost them. Two yellow cards for cynical and dangerous play disrupted their rhythm and handed Tuks momentum during a crucial period of the half.
Still, the visitors managed to steady themselves late on, with both flyhalves slotting penalties to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Nothing separated the sides at the break – locked at 8-8.
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As tight as the first half was, the second started with a bang as UJ captain Kamo Molefe galloped over the line. Flyhalf JT Kapank converted to give the visitors a seven-point lead.
But that lead was wiped out almost immediately as Janse van Rensburg finished off a brilliant linebreak by hot-stepping Tuks scrumhalf Akha Mjawule, who was named Man of the Match.
From there, the hosts seemingly shifted to another gear with tries from hooker Jean Fourie and a second from Dukuswa. Du Toit added a penalty goal in the 60th minute.
UJ showed a glimpse of a fightback when some more individual brilliance by Kapank took UJ to within touching distance, but two tries in the dying minutes of the game from replacement lock Jacques Oberholzer and Dukuswa’s third, put the result was beyond doubt.
Tuks will welcome the NWU Eagles to Tuks Stadium next Monday night.
Photo: Catherine Kotze/Asemengage
The post Dukuswa hat-trick seals home final for Tuks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Tuks will host the Varsity Cup final at Tuks Stadium next Monday night after a resounding win over UJ in the second semi-final.
The post Dukuswa hat-trick seals home final for Tuks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
