No easy games, but Eagles veteran Matthew Fortuin believes they can go all the way

As the FNB Varsity Cup season unfolds, Matthew Fortuin stands out not just for his skill, but for his experience. Now in his fourth year with the FNB NWU Eagles, the 24-year-old is one of the most seasoned players in the squad.

Fortuin joined the Eagles in 2023, the same year the team lifted the FNB Varsity Cup trophy. That debut season also brought personal success, as he won Player of the Year and earned a nomination for Overall Player of the Year. In 2024, he added Backline Player of the Year to his growing list of achievements.

Yet for Fortuin, rugby is more than awards. “My faith is my foundation,” he says. “I want to be remembered as a man of God, a man of integrity and as someone who stood firm in what he believed in.”

His journey began at George South Primary in the Western Cape before he sharpened his skills at Outeniqua High School. Limited opportunities in high school forced him to work harder. He told Varsity Cup “I didn’t get a lot of opportunities in high school and that taught me how to work hard,” he reflects.

After school, he attended the WP Rugby Academy and represented the Leopards Under-21 squad, experiences that prepared him for university rugby. Fortuin currently studies Health Sciences in Sports Coaching and Human Movement Sciences at the NWU Potchefstroom campus, Fortuin believes the Eagles have shaped him deeply.

“The journey with the Eagles shaped me immensely, and coming back from my injury was a huge learning curve in my career so far,” he says.

The Eagles started the 2026 season in good form winning their first two matches, Varsity Cup asked Fortuin what this means for their momentum going forward. “There is no easy game in Varsity Cup, but momentum is everything for us” he said.

That belief is echoed by captain Stephen Krugel, who said after their recent win: “We started with a proper banger this year. That gives us the momentum we want to stay on top of the logs and push for semis and finals.”

By: Sibusiso Edward Moledi