Photographer: Sikhulule Nkomphela
Jean-Jacques van Schalkwyk constantly searches for the positive in every situation.
Add that attitude, his speed, quick feet, unwavering passion and dedication for rugby, and ability to be a team player, and he is certainly destined for greatness.
The third-year BSc student in computer science at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) was recently part of the University South Africa (USSA) team which won silver at the FISU Rugby Sevens Championships in France. At the event, the SA team narrowly lost 22-15 to the hosts in the final.
"I had a great tournament, and I quite enjoyed myself throughout the whole experience," recalled Van Schalkwyk.
"We had a particular group of gents, and the environment allowed us to enjoy ourselves fully and play to the best of our abilities.
"I did notice a few things throughout the tournament that I would do differently on and off the field, but I wouldn't change anything about the experience I had with the players and coaches along the way."
For Chappie, as Van Schalkwyk is affectionately called by his teammates, playing for the varsity national team was a step toward his ambition of playing for the Blitzboks (Springboks Sevens).
“I am honoured and grateful for the opportunity to play for the USSA Rugby Sevens team. Playing rugby is part of my DNA; if I could play this sport forever, I would.
Representing South Africa has always been a big dream of mine, and I want to thank UWC for giving me the opportunity and the platform to build on what I have and express myself in the meantime. It has always been a dream of mine to represent the Blitzboks and wear our country's badge on my chest. It is something I work towards daily.”
Van Schalkwyk, who lives in Oakdale, fell in love with rugby at age five and met people who believed in him by exposing him to beach-touch rugby.
This changed his perspective on the game and gave him the necessary foundation to analyse the game and develop his skills.
"Rugby is where I met the most incredible people. Many of them are people I consider to be my best friends and mentors, whom I love and respect. Rugby has the ability to bring people of different backgrounds together to achieve one goal, and that is what makes this sport unique.”
After playing for various clubs, Chappie joined UWC in 2022 and was part of the rugby team that earned a promotion to the Varsity Cup, but was subsequently relegated back to the Varsity Shield this year.
"[Relegation] wasn't ideal. We felt we had let down our teammates and coaches, who had put in so much effort. But, like with every disappointment in life, you get the opportunity to be better and learn from your mistakes. The goal should always be to become a better rugby player and person. If we go back and reflect on our performances during this year's Varsity Cup, I think we will benefit so much more from this loss than a win would have taught us. It sucks, but I know we will come back stronger."
Jean-Jacques van Schalkwyk constantly searches for the positive in every situation.
Add that attitude, his speed, quick feet, unwavering passion and dedication for rugby, and ability to be a team player, and he is certainly destined for greatness.
The third-year BSc student in computer science at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) was recently part of the University South Africa (USSA) team which won silver at the FISU Rugby Sevens Championships in France. At the event, the SA team narrowly lost 22-15 to the hosts in the final.
"I had a great tournament, and I quite enjoyed myself throughout the whole experience," recalled Van Schalkwyk.
"We had a particular group of gents, and the environment allowed us to enjoy ourselves fully and play to the best of our abilities.
"I did notice a few things throughout the tournament that I would do differently on and off the field, but I wouldn't change anything about the experience I had with the players and coaches along the way."
For Chappie, as Van Schalkwyk is affectionately called by his teammates, playing for the varsity national team was a step toward his ambition of playing for the Blitzboks (Springboks Sevens).
“I am honoured and grateful for the opportunity to play for the USSA Rugby Sevens team. Playing rugby is part of my DNA; if I could play this sport forever, I would.
Representing South Africa has always been a big dream of mine, and I want to thank UWC for giving me the opportunity and the platform to build on what I have and express myself in the meantime. It has always been a dream of mine to represent the Blitzboks and wear our country's badge on my chest. It is something I work towards daily.”
Van Schalkwyk, who lives in Oakdale, fell in love with rugby at age five and met people who believed in him by exposing him to beach-touch rugby.
"Rugby is where I met the most incredible people. Many of them are people I consider to be my best friends and mentors, whom I love and respect. Rugby has the ability to bring people of different backgrounds together to achieve one goal, and that is what makes this sport unique.”
After playing for various clubs, Chappie joined UWC in 2022 and was part of the rugby team that earned a promotion to the Varsity Cup, but was subsequently relegated back to the Varsity Shield this year.
"[Relegation] wasn't ideal. We felt we had let down our teammates and coaches, who had put in so much effort. But, like with every disappointment in life, you get the opportunity to be better and learn from your mistakes. The goal should always be to become a better rugby player and person. If we go back and reflect on our performances during this year's Varsity Cup, I think we will benefit so much more from this loss than a win would have taught us. It sucks, but I know we will come back stronger."
