Maties Rugby is aiming to raise R15 million through a bursary campaign to support student athletes. The initiative forms part of the club’s 150-year anniversary.
This is according to Hans Scriba, the chairman of the Danie Craven Bursary Fund.
“An interesting thing is that the rugby club is 150 years old, but the university is only 107 years old,” said Scriba. “Initially, it was the club of the town and then only later on became the club of the university.”
Scriba hopes that with the university’s efforts, they will be able to secure funding for rugby players for this year and for future years.
“The idea and the vision is to raise 150 bursaries [worth] R100 000 each, and that equates to R15 million for the year,” said Scriba. “[The money will come] mainly from donations from individuals and corporates [and also] some foundations and trusts.”
Decorations celebrating the 150-year anniversary of Maties Rugby were put up around Danie Craven stadium in Stellenbosch, where Maties Rugby holds their practices and game days. PHOTO: Kyla Laing
The bursaries are awarded to players based on merit and financial need, according to Scriba.
“We take into consideration players’ financial situation, whether they are financially needy students and if they qualify for [The National Student Financial Aid Scheme],” said Scriba. “We allocate to those who we believe are the most worthy.”
What a bursary means for student athletes
Drikus Hancke, the head rugby coach of the Maties team, believes that a bursary would offer student athletes the opportunity to be coached and receive an education.
“[Athletes] get to leave as well-rounded individuals and not only sporting individuals, but also leave with the qualification,” said Hancke. “[Maties Rugby is] proud of the legacy and the history of the club [and there] has been a lot of people who have worked hard to get the club where it is.”
To maintain a proud legacy, history, and top talent, [Maties Rugby] need financial investment, said Hancke.
“Financial support is very important,” said Hancke. “We support student athletes with funds [in order] to attract very good, top quality student athletes. Maties [Rugby] needs to be able to be competitive in the market and competitive in offering bursaries.”
“I think it’s an amazing opportunity for top student athletes to come to the university and not only be coached well but get the opportunity to study,” said Drikus Hancke, the head rugby coach of Maties Rugby. PHOTO: Kyla Laing
“It’s a special year, and we’re using it to create more awareness and raise more money than we usually do,” said Scriba. “We plan to raise more so we will be able to help players for the next year and the year after.”
“People don’t realise how influential a bursary is,” said Ezekiel Ngobeni, a third-year BSc (agricultural economics) student and the 2025 captain of Maties Rugby. “In some sort of way, it is a lifeline for some individual[s].”
To be awarded the bursary is a “greater belief of what an individual can achieve”, said Ngobeni.
Hans Scriba is the chairman of the Danie Craven Bursary Fund and a former Maties student and rugby player from 1984 to 1989. ”It’s great for me also to come back after all these years and to be chairman of the bursary committee,” said Scriba. “To be able to use the legacy of the club basically to raise money for the rugby players and their studies.” PHOTO: Kyla Laing