The first-time participation of the first rugby team of the Sol Plaatje University (SPU) in Kimberley in the annual FNB Varsity Shield, came with more than one first.
One of the SPU’s players, the 22-year-old Jaiden Faviers, has been crowned the 2025 Suzuki Rookie of the Year.
Faviers is a second-year BA student, originally from Strand in the Western Cape where he attended the Gordon High School in Somerset West.
Faviers was nominated nationally by the coaches and voted for by the public.
This makes him the first-ever SPU player to receive this national honour.
The SPU says its debut at the FNB Varsity Shield was made unforgettable – not only by Faviers, but by the entire SPU squad.
He says he started playing rugby in Gr.1 since he likes rugby and has a family comprised of athletes, who pushed him to play.
However, it was only after completing high school that he started playing seriously. He then played for his local club, the Strand Liga Rugby Football Club (RFC).
In early 2024, he commenced with his studies at the SPU, where he continued with the game.
To be part of the first SPU team to compete in the FNB Varsity Shield, was nerve-racking at first.
Even more so as the matches were broadcast on TV.
“But as the tournament progressed, I became comfortable. My teammates helped a lot during the course of the tournament and made it a very memorable first season,” he says.
During the season he scored five tries, accumulating 25 points.
“I did not think I was going to be nominated because there were a lot of rookies that played very well during the tournament, especially in our team.
“But I was shocked and happy that I was nominated. I am grateful for everyone who voted for me,” Faviers comments on his Rookie of the Year nomination.
His nomination, he thinks, is mostly because of his tries and the significance of it, as well as the ability he has with the ball in his hand.
SPU impressed as first-time participants
The SPU secured a place in the FNB Varsity Shield for 2025 for the first time since the establishment of the university ten years ago.
The FNB Varsity Cup and Shield is an annual tournament with the top university rugby teams in the country.
The first team of the SPU impressed as first-time participants with their eagerness and spirit, although they only won two of their seven matches.
In all their matches the Gemmies were worthy opponents, giving their rivals a difficult time, with close scores in many of the matches.
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