Mat pays a visit to UCT
FNB UCT's special-edition Monte Taljaard Trophy Match jerseys - worn against NMMU on Monday night - were hard to miss, but even harder to ignore was the presence of Mat Turner, Kyle Brown and Pieter Engelbrecht in support of their ex-teammates.
The trio, who are now campaigning on the IRB's Seven World Series, were all in attendance at the Green Mile as UCT cruised to a 49-12 win over the Madibaz - along with a host of other former players; amongst them Tim Whitehead and James Martin - also from the 2008 Varsity Cup team which lost in the final to Stellenbosch.
Brown and Engelbrecht, of course, were in action for the Blitz Bokke as South Africa romped to Cup glory in Las Vegas last weekend, whilst Turner was part of the English side which lost out to the SA team in America.
"It was disappointing (losing in the semifinals to South Africa)," said Mat from the sidelines on Monday night, "we led 10-0 at half-time, but the Boks were just too good - particularly on defence - and outscored us 17-0 at half-time to win 17-10."
Former UCT speedster Mat has been playing professional rugby in the United Kingdom since his heroics in the inaugural Varsity Cup tournament in 2008.
He first played for Premiership club Bristol, but now earns his bread solely as a full-time England Sevens player (he qualifies for England through parentage).
His speed and nose for the tryline - which helped him to nine tries in the 2008 Varsity Cup and remains a season-best record - still feature in many UCT highlights videos and it has served him well against some of the world's best Sevens players too.
"The Varsity Cup put me on the map," enthused Turner, when asked about the impact this exciting student-based tournament had on his career.
"I'm obviously very privileged to be playing for England on the World Sevens circuit, but I always try to follow the UCT guys' results - be it in the Varsity Cup or the league - no matter where I am.
"UCT's style of rugby is very close to my heart and I'm still in touch with all the guys from the 2008 team. Stu (Commins), for instance, also plays rugby in England, so we try to see each other from time to time and, of course, I bump into Kyle [Brown] and Poot [Pieter Engelbrecht] on the Sevens circuit. Even though we're in stiff competition on the field, we often talk about those 'good old days'."
The UCT 'Class of 2008' produced not only three international Sevens players, but also a full Test player in American Eagle JJ Gagiano, as well as a host of provincial (or club) rugby and Super Rugby players - Tim Whitehead (Western Province and Stormers), Stu Commins (Northampton Saints), Martin Muller (Western Province, Griquas and Stormers), Matt Rosslee (Western Province and Griquas), Enoch Panya (Mighty Elephants), and Dylan Rogers (Griquas and Connacht) to name just a few.
"It was a special team," reminisced Turner, whose coaches from 2008 (John Dobson and Robbie Fleck) are also currently involved in the WP coaching set-up.
"It was great getting back to the Green Mile on Monday night - seeing some of the familiar faces... and also some new faces too," he added.
"I'm able to get back to Cape Town quite a bit, because of the breaks we have on the Sevens circuit, and it's great being able to get back to UCT and support my old team.
"I'm right behind the guys this season and hopefully when I'm back in April I'll be able to support them in the 2011 Varsity Cup Final."
* Mathew Drew Turner was born in Cape Town on January 18, 1988 and attended Western Province Prep and Bishops.
He played for Western Province at Under-19 and U21 level and represented UCT in the 2008 Varsity Cup and WP Super League.
Turner moved to England at the end of 2008 and made his England Sevens debut in George, South Africa later that year.
By Howard Kahn
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