Tuks coach Dewey Swartbooi reflects on what he calls a journey through 'dark, dark days' — from being part of the management team that suffered relegation to the Shield in 2023, to overseeing a record-breaking sixth Varsity Cup title with Monday's 31-3 demolition of NWU Eagles. Swartbooi is candid about his fears heading into the 2026 campaign after losing 18 players post-season, but the squad's depth and cohesion ultimately proved decisive — Tuks used 32 players across nine matches, finished top two in most attacking metrics, and led the competition in defence.
The piece draws out the significance of what Tuks achieved across three seasons: Shield title, Cup semifinal, Cup title — a trajectory no programme has matched. Swartbooi credits a 'no excuses' squad philosophy, partly inspired by Gordon Tietjens' approach to depth over star reliance, as the cornerstone of the run. With the Varsity Cup league starting in early May and more player turnover looming, he's deliberately keeping his eyes off back-to-back ambitions — but the structural foundations he's built make that conversation entirely legitimate.