Van Zijl stands tall as Madibaz aim to bounce back in Shield derby

Madibaz No 6 Sean van Zijl scored a try on his FNB Varsity Shield debut against Varsity College in Durban last Friday.

The Madibaz are looking to harness the energy of home support for their crucial FNB Varsity Shield showdown against Fort Hare on Friday.

The Mandela University outfit will be eager to bounce back after a tough 40-14 opening-round defeat in Durban to Varsity College, who knocked them out of last year’s competition at the semifinal stage.

Young No 6 Sean van Zijl, who scored a try on debut for the Gqeberha team, said they were determined to showcase their true potential in their upcoming encounter against their Eastern Cape opponents.

With the team from Alice no doubt also smarting after a first-round loss, provincial bragging rights will be on the line when the two sides clash at the Madibaz Stadium.

Van Zijl and his teammates are fully aware of the significance of the encounter against a team who thrives on an open, fast-paced game.

“We’ve analysed [and know] what to expect from Fort Hare,” the 19-year-old loosie, who believes their “passionate” home fans will give them extra motivation, said.

With 10 players making their Varsity Shield debuts last week, Madibaz are fielding a youthful team this season and the likes of Van Zijl understands that quick adaptation is key.

“As a team, we need to reflect on our mistakes, learn from them, and improve,” the first-year BSc Construction Economics student explained.

“The most important thing is to stay positive. We’ve seen before that anything can happen in this competition.”

Despite the disappointing result, getting on the scoresheet in his first match was a proud moment for the Paarl Gymnasium alumnus who stands 1.86m tall in his togs and weighs in at 99kg.

“It was an amazing feeling, but our focus remains on the bigger picture. The squad’s spirit is still strong and we are determined to make the most of our next opportunity.”

Van Zijl, who is originally from Vanderbijlpark in Gauteng, began his rugby journey in mini rugby.

“I have fond memories of running around barefoot on the cold Highveld grass, with my parents always supporting me,” he recalled.

“From early on, I knew I wanted to pursue rugby as a career because it brings me joy every single day.”

Over time, he has learnt that versatility is key to excelling in the sport.

“You can’t just be good at one thing – you need to be well-rounded. That’s why I’ve been working hard to improve different aspects of my game.”

His dedication earnt him a spot at No 8 for the Western Province U19 team last year and he is eager to take the next step.

There will be no better stage to do that than the high-pressure environment of Shield rugby at the Madibaz Stadium.

The match kicks off at 4pm.