He might be a teacher by trade, but Durbell assistant coach Reginald Nutt is a student of the game of rugby.
And while he is actively pushing through youth players in the Western Province ranks, Nutt is also concerned about what happens to their futures.
Having spent eight years coaching the juniors at the University of the Western Cape and also coaching various youth teams at school level, there is nothing more important than the future of the game for the former lock forward.
This weekend his Durbell side will cross swords with his ex-team UWC at the students’ home ground.
And while it will be a homecoming of mixed emotions – with the students |currently at the bottom of the Super League A – the visitors are much-fancied heading into the encounter.
Their last game was a narrow 20-19 win over UCT.
In that match two of the standouts for Durbell were fullback Warrick Rhoode and lock Stuart Austin – both former UWC |players.
As for Chester Williams’ UWC, they have played a lot of rugby to date, having played in the Varsity Shield and then also the |promotion/relegation match against Ikeys mixed with their league campaign.
With Durbell coming off a two-week rest, the students’ depth and fitness will be put to the test.
Nutt, though, believes that because of the Varsity Shield and player eligibility rules, players over 25 might feel a bit left out and it’s these players that UWC have to look at keeping.
He explains: “The game is not just about the Varsity Shield and you can’t alienate a player over 25 because of it.
“The league ultimately determines who you will get for the next year’s Varsity Shield and it’s important to have these “older” players around to help you through the league campaign.”
Sticking to the varsity theme, it’s time for intervarsity this weekend when defending champions Maties host keys at the Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday.
The hosts enter the match as hot favourites, with Ikeys finally breaking their season duck last week when they beat Primrose 38-8.
Still, keys will remember the last time they faced their rivals – a 60-13 thumping two months ago in the Varsity Cup.
It might still be early days in the |competition, but at the Jan Burger Sports Complex hosts NNK will be involved in what is essentially a relegation scrap with fellow new boys Kuilsrivier.
Still without a win in four outings, two for NNK, Kuilsrivier simply can’t afford to go down again.
As far as entertaining rugby goes, it’s at Accordian Park where the high-flying Tygerberg will look to get the better of Belhar.