When it comes to South African student rugby, Tuks’ Chad-Lee Valentine is one of the few players who can boast of being there, done that and got the T-shirt to prove it.
Meaning that he can boast that he played for the Tuks team, which won the Varsity Cup in 2022. Then, in 2024, for the team that won the Varsity Shield Tournament and the USSA Sevens Tournament, and in 2025, the USSA Tournament (15’s rugby).
But as they say, all good things come to an end. So too for Valentine. Last year, he finished with his BA Ed degree. This year, he is doing a diploma course in entrepreneurship, then that’s it. He is done with university rugby. So it is no surprise that he wants to end his career with another Varsity Cup title. If Tuks do get to play the final, it could mean Valentine will have played a total of 30 Varsity rugby games.
The road to the final won’t be easy. On Monday at 19:00 on the Hatfield Sports Campus main field, Tuks will take on the Ikeys, last year’s Varsity Cup champions. It was Ikeys who last year dashed Tuks’s title aspirations by beating them in the semi-final on Tuks’ home field. Ikeys were also dominant in the group match encounter in Cape Town.
“We know when we play Ikeys, we’re in for a tough encounter. A lot of us still hurt about what happened in last year’s semi-final. We have something to prove,” says Valentine, who is Tuks’ vice-captain this year.
When it comes to leadership on the field, Valentine is full of praise for the role played by two previous Tuks Varsity Cup captains, Sango Xamlash and Lincoln Daniels.
“They were guys I looked up to. I’m not saying I want to be like them or do the same, but they’ve influenced how I think about rugby and how I train. For me, it’s important to always give 100%. It does not matter whether it is in training or in play, because I hope to inspire younger players through the example I set.”
Valentine might not be the tallest player, but what he lacks in size, he makes up for with guts and tenacity. When he dons the TuksRugby number-9 jersey, he is the proverbial general whose aim is to get his team close to the try line so they can score. There is nothing he likes more than trying to outsmart his opponents.
On defence, Valentine abides by the simple principle that no one can run “without legs”.
“It means when I tackle, I go low for the legs. For me, it is pure instinct.”
As for highlights, Tuks’ 2022 Varsity Cup victory will always remain special to Valentine.
“I was only 20 when we won. It was one of the best days of my life. Last year’s USSA (15s) victory was also special, actually very emotional for me. As a team, we played for Naat Laubscher, our conditioning coach. We wanted to give him the win. He played a big role in my life. Winning the USSA’s sevens in 2024 will also always be a special memory.”
