Where there’s a will, there’s a way. With the outstanding work ethic of former Matie Christopher Schreuder, it’s clear that he’s more than capable of breaking new ground.

Christopher, a former student at Grey College in Bloemfontein, arrived in Stellenbosch in 2018 on a Western Province rugby contract as part of the WP Rugby Institute. At the same time, he enrolled at Stellenbosch University to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce in Actuarial Science.

Before current Matie Riley Norton, Christopher was the last player to represent South Africa in both Schools Rugby and SA Schools Cricket.

During his time as a student, Christopher not only played rugby for Maties but also represented Western Province. He was part of a generation of student-athletes who exemplified what can be achieved through hard work and dedication. While his teammates at the WP Rugby Institute took afternoon naps after intense training sessions, Christopher chose to return to his desk to study.

He was part of the Maties U20 team that won the Varsity Cup Young Guns competition in 2019, a victory that remains one of the highlights of his Maties rugby career. The 2020 Varsity Cup season was cut short, and in 2021 Christopher was part of the Maties squad that competed in the tournament's bio-secure "bubble". During that period, Christopher—like several of his teammates—wrote university examinations under the supervision of the team manager in the days between matches.

In 2023, he completed his degree. His Varsity Cup campaign that same year was unfortunately ended before it even got going because of a serious knee injury. Before that setback, he had also made his senior debut for Western Province during his time at Maties.

“I don't think there are many student experiences out there that can compare with being a student in Stellenbosch. The people are what make Matieland such a special place to study, and you make friendships and connections that stay with you for the rest of your life,” says Christopher.

Stellenbosch was not the end of his journey as a student-athlete.

“I was named St Andrews University's Rugby Player of the Year while completing my master's degree at the university in Scotland.”

Christopher began his professional career in the Quantitative Graduate Programme at FirstRand in Sandton. He currently works as an Executive Assistant at RMB (Rand Merchant Bank) within the Investment Banking division.

“When I think about the future and my goals, it's difficult to point to anything specific right now. At this stage, I'd like to continue climbing the ladder and growing in my career. Hopefully I'll be able to achieve something special in this chapter of my life.”

Stellenbosch will always have a special place in his heart, which is why he encourages others to study there.

“I think the people you meet and the friendships you build are invaluable. Residence life is also incredibly special, and some of my favourite memories come from my res experiences. Student life in Stellenbosch also gives you a great balance between academics and your social life.”