UCT Vice-Chancellor hosts dinner in honour of Ikey Tigers

After returning from more than 30 days in a bio bubble in Pretoria, the UCT Ikey Tigers were invited by the UCT Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng to a celebratory dinner at the UCT Graduate School of Business on 14 June 2021.

Our executives, coaches and players were delighted to be invited to the dinner and arrived dressed in their formal Ikeys blazers looking sprightly and fit after a six week bruising Varsity Cup campaign.

Prof Phakeng welcomed us all as well as UCT’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr Reno Morar; Advisor to the VC, Mr Thando Tsotsobe and Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Transformation, Prof Martin Hall  – all of who were seated with the players and coaches.

Prof Phakeng spoke about how proud she and the entire university community were of the team of 2021 albeit that she missed and pined sitting on the stands at the Green Mile to cheer our players on. While there are so many demands on university resources minimising what can be spent on sport in general, the Ikeys have provided UCT with an outstanding example of a student sporting team performing successfully against the best universities in South Africa.

Our Club Chairman, Greg Fury thanked the Vice-Chancellor and spoke glowingly of the efforts, preparation, planning and execution that the team embarked on over the past 6 months in the most trying of circumstances.

Finally our executive member, John le Roux read a wonderful letter from our President Neville Isdell who unfortunately has not been able to travel to South Africa. It was steeped in wisdom and emotion which led the team to sing the new version of our club song, the Warrior Poet, with passion and gusto.

The evening was a huge success ending with the players flocking to be photographed with Prof Phakeng.

On behalf of the UCT Rugby Club, we thank the Vice-Chancellor and her administrative guests for hosting the evening and recognising our famous club.

Enjoy some pictures from the evening, below.