While the action on the field has been fierce and competitive, off the field the eight participating teams in the 2023 Varsity Shield competition are getting the chance to showcase their involvement in making a difference in the lives of their communities with the #ShowUs campaign.   

FNB UCT Ikeys choose to link up with “Men – Let’s Talk", an initiative initially started by the UCT Engineering Faculty.  

The Office of Inclusivity and Change at UCT has subsequently embarked on a similar partnership with the facilitation team of the initiative to institutionalise and streamline men’s dialogue in male residences at UCT.   

The UCT Rugby management has approached the “Men – Let’s Talk” facilitation team to run a series of men’s circles for UCT men’s rugby teams, a programme named aptly The SHIFT.  

The objective of the programme is to provide the opportunity to discuss the meaning of healthy masculinity and how that translates to becoming responsible men, caring husbands, protective fathers and emotionally intelligent partners, and in doing so making positive contributions to society.  

Ikeys captain Luthando Woji says this is a very important initiative as it targets young men who are extremely impressionable. 

“It helps them and us to engage positively with our masculinity. In contemporary times men have been made to feel ashamed of masculinity and I think it is important to shift this perspective to try and get men to have a positive outlook on masculinity and curb the spread of toxic masculinity.” 

Varsity Cup is also calling on fans to take on the challenge and #ShowUs how you are choosing to lead the way to change in South Africa. Tag us in your social media posts and #ShowUs what you have done to make a positive impact in your community.