Scarra Ntubeni, the battle-hardened hooker of Western Province, is eyeing a fairy-tale farewell by securing the Currie Cup once more. Kicking off his WP tenure in 2011, Ntubeni has been a steadfast figure in the team. Despite a brief Springbok appearance in 2019, his heart remains with the blue-and-white, aiming to end his career with a bang.
Ntubeni, who previously lifted the Currie Cup in 2012, 2014, and 2017, expressed his sentimental desire for one last hurrah.
"I won [the Currie Cup] in 2012, 2014 and 2017 so it would be nice to add one more and then know I’m done. It will always be special to win a Currie Cup, with its history and hopefully I have those memories again with my son in the cup, holding the cup or drinking from the cup!”
He shared these thoughts during a media session flanked by WP icon Brok Harris, ahead of their clash against the Vodacom Bulls at Cape Town Stadium.Meanwhile, Harris, who hung up his boots and picked up a whistle, is diving into his coaching role, particularly excited about learning from Brendan Venter. "I’m really learning a lot from him. Just the energy that he brings, and just being a good rugby brain," Harris commented, appreciating the wisdom imparted by Venter and head coach Labeeb Levy.
With the Currie Cup season kicking off, Harris noted that none of the URC players or those from the Junior Springbok squad would play in the first round, giving room for under-20s and seasoned players lacking recent URC game time to shine. As for team leadership, the captain’s identity remains a suspenseful mystery until Friday, with Harris praising the depth of leadership within the squad:
"We’ve got strong leaders in the squad. You’ve got your lineout leaders, scrum leaders and then your general play and defensive leaders as well. In that, you just pick a guy that has a massive work rate and knows all our systems. I personally feel the captain is just the guy that literally does the toss."
With the stage set for a titanic North-South showdown, the air is thick with anticipation. Make sure to grab your tickets and witness the magic unfold as WP begins their campaign with gusto this Saturday. Feel it, the Carling Currie Cup is here!