Asad Moos has certainly caught the eye for the UCT Ikeys during this season’s Varsity Cup campaign. The 21-year-old has played a pivotal role in his side’s quest for glory in 2025 with his side falling at the final hurdle in each of the last two seasons.
The Social Sciences student has already represented South Africa at junior level and hipes to take the necessary steps on route to Springbok career in the future. Moos is a livewire on the field, constantly looking to get his side over the advantage line with a keen eye for attacking space. He’s the latest half-back to come off the historically rich Western Province Rugby conveyor belt of talent.
In the last couple years, Western Province and the Stormers have produced exciting, young talent in the form of Herschel Jantjies and former Junior Springbok Imad Khan –Moos is the latest prospect who’s ready to take his chance.
The 21-year-old scrumhalf has already been exposed to playing in high pressure situations, having featured for the Junior Boks in the World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa. Playing in front of his friends and family in Cape Town, Moos had the chance to showcase his skill against the very best in his age group at the time.
I learned valuable lessons not just as a player but off the field as a person as well and what it takes to play at the highest level. It was a massive privilege to play for the Junior Boks and it just gave me a taste of what professional rugby is about and made me want more of it.
Speaking to the UCT Ikeys star, he believes that representing his country at junior level has given him a new-found pressure – something he relishes.
There’s always going to be pressure to perform – I think it comes with the job but I enjoy that challenge of knowing that I’m expected to perform at a high level whenever I step onto the field.
A young, hungry and talented player whose ready to take his chance are all the tools for a future great. Another factor that could very well assist his growth is the fact that Herschel Jantjies will be leaving the Stormers at the end of the season. Jantjies’ impending exit to join French Top 14 side Bayonne will free up a space in the squad, giving Moos the opportunity to stake his claim for that number nine jumper.
A genuine path to regular minutes in the professional game as well as the ambition to become one of the very best, Moos already is hoping that 2025 can be his breakout year. The dynamic scrumhalf has set himself the lofty, albeit very realistic targets of playing for the Stormers and Springboks in the future.
My ambitions as a rugby player, not trying to look too far ahead but within the next few years I’d like to play for the Stormers in the URC as well as hopefully one day representing the Springboks.
The former Wynberg Boys pupil has been an important cog in the Ikeys wheel that’s helped them maintain an unbeaten home record in the Varsity Cup this season.
The Ikeys have Western Cape derby to look forward to in next week’s Varsity Cup Final, where they’ll travel to Stellenbosch for a showdown with Maties. Moos admitted he hopes that 2025 will be the year that UCT 9finally go all the way.
I can’t imagine losing three finals in a row so I’d like to think third times a charm as you said but I don’t want to jinx anything.
Hopefully for the Ikeys, they’ll have some Moos magic to inspire them to victory.
