Callie happy to hand over his keys
The 2011 Varsity Cup season was a bittersweet one for (then) FNB Maties skipper Callie Visagie. Even though Stellenbosch missed out on the semifinals for the first time in the tournament's history, last year had a few positive 'spin-offs' for him.
The powerful hooker, despite having an injury-interrupted season (which saw him miss his team's final two matches), walked off with the Player that Rocks title in 2011 - a unanimous choice in the end, ahead of Tuks flanker Warwick Tecklenburg and UJ skipper Justin Wheeler.
However, aside from being honoured as the best player in the 2011 tournament, Visagie also received two prizes - a financial reward and the use of a hired car for the remainder of the year, courtesy of Hertz.
"It was a great prize," said Visagie told varsitycup.co.za about his 'free ride' last year, "I'm very thankful to the Varsity Cup and Hertz for the car!
"It actually suited me well, as I was able to sell my car - because of my move to Johannesburg - and I used the Hertz car for the rest of the year.
"People used to tease me a bit and often my mates would see my car outside a restaurant and pop in to say hi just because they knew I'd be inside. I will miss it this year... I just hope no speeding or parking fines land up at Varsity Cup head office over the next few months!"
With his studies a thing of the past, Visagie - a former Western Province representative - has since moved to the Lions, after signing a two-year deal with the Currie Cup champions towards the end of last year.
"I'm loving it here," he enthused.
"Johannesburg is obviously very different to Stellenbosch, but I've been pleasantly surprised since moving here. I first lived in Randfontein but I now live with Anton van Zyl's two brothers in Parkhurst - which, to me, is a lot more like home in terms of a more homely feel and it's also closer to training."
Living conditions aside, looking at the rugby side of things, Visagie added: "It's been great being back in a professional outfit - after initially 'dipping my toes' at Western Province. We've been training hard and we're all looking forward to the upcoming season."
Visagie's hopes of Super Rugby game time were handed a boost this week with the news of fellow hooker Bandise Maku's pectoral muscle injury - which could leave him sidelined for a while. (At this stage, it is not known how long his recovery will take.)
The former Maties skipper said: "It's never nice and you never want to benefit from somebody else's misfortune... but I guess I could get an opportunity now and it's something I won't say no to.
"Ultimately, I came to the Lions to play Super Rugby; it's what we all want here. Hopefully I will get a chance to play and prove my worth in the process, it's just a pity that it's come at someone else's expense."
However, despite what might transpire at Super Rugby level in 2012 - and beyond - the 23-year-old hooker admitted that he would always have a very special place in his heart for his old club, the Maties, and the entire Varsity Cup tournament.
"Anton's one brother, Chris, played with me for Maties last year, so we're already planning on driving to Potchefstroom to watch the Maties against the Pukke next Monday and we'll definitely be at the UJ-Maties game too," he said.
"It's a pity the Maties game on Monday wasn't on TV, but I'll certainly be doing my best to follow the guys and the entire Varsity Cup tournament.
"I will always have a very special place in my heart for the Varsity Cup. It's a fun tournament and environment to play in, but, yet, the quality of rugby is also very high... and there's nothing better than playing a match in front of your own university mates and then having a few beers with them afterwards!
"I think we all wish we could play Varsity Cup rugby forever, and I will certainly miss it, but I guess we all have to take the step up one day (if possible). I'm very grateful that I've been able to do just that."
By Howard Kahn
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