The 2014 edition of the Varsity Rugby began this week with a number of innovations planned for the year.
The 2014 edition of the Varsity Rugby began this week with a number of innovations planned for the year.
The jam-packed event started with the Varsity Shield tournament on Monday 27 January, while the Varsity Cup starts on Monday 3 February.
This year also sees the return of the promotion relegation in both the Cup and Shield events.
The Young Guns and Steinhoff Koshuisrugby competitions will again complete the line-up this year, starting on February 10 and 17, respectively.
The Varsity Cup tournament organisers have opened the competition to experimentation with specially designed jerseys for props (in the Varsity Cup and Shield) and the employment of two referees (in the Varsity Cup only).
In another innovation this year a new 'Free Catch Rule' will come into play in the 2014 Varsity Rugby competitions – adding to the free-flowing style of rugby employed in the various tournaments.
A player can now mark the ball – when catching a kick on the full – anywhere on the field and not just in his own 22.
The referees, however, will play advantage with any catch from the air and will be able to bring the catcher’s team back if they do not get advantage and award a free-kick to them.
23 Varsity Rugby matches will be televised in 2014 – out of a total of 84 fixtures taking place through the Varsity Cup, the Varsity Shield, Varsity Young Guns and the Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships – with the 2014 Varsity Rugby Grand Finals day taking place on Monday 7 April.
Rhodes University Rugby Club will not take place in the Varsity Rugby this year, but there are plans to win their way into the Varsity Shield in 2015.
Rhodes will host the University Sports South Africa rugby tournament from 30 June to 5 July, playing in the C Section.
Rhodes rugby coach, Qondakele Sompondo said his side will work towards winning their section.
A win will then see them play a promotion/relegation match against the bottom finishing team in the B Section.
If Rhodes win this game they will play in the Varsity Shield next Year.
While Rhodes may not be represented at the Varsity Rugby three former Grahamstown pupils will be part of the FNB NMMU Madibaz team, playing in the Varsity Cup.
The players are Rob Louw and Tyron Rankin (Former Graeme College pupils) and Steven Hansel (Kingswood College).
On the exciting advent of 'double referees' and the new 'Free Catch Rule', SARU CEO Jurie Roux said "we're very excited about the opportunity to trial the two-referees' system – which has been used in the Stellenbosch Koshuis League for some time now.
"The IRB have also been very supportive and we're all excited to see if two referees can help make for a better product for everyone – the players, coaches and, of course, our valued spectators.
"I think the 'Free Catch Rule' has the potential to eradicate poor kicking and also enhance running rugby at the same time. It's also a very exciting innovation for Varsity Rugby."
FNB UP-Tuks will be hoping to defend their Cup title once again, having won the tournament in 2012 and 2013, but there will be stiff competition from the country's top rugby universities
Tuks have a new head coach, former Blue Bulls and Griquas coach Pote Human, with five new coaches set to take the reigns in the Varsity Cup in 2014.
Only FNB Wits' Andy Royle, FNB UFS-Shimlas' Michael Horak and the FNB Maties' Chris Rossouw remain from last year.
"There is no doubt that the Varsity Cup is giving both coaches and players the platform to show their worth before moving on," said Roux.
He cited the likes of Chean Roux (Springboks), Nollis Marais (Blue Bulls), Matt Proudfoot (Stormers), John Dobson (Western Province) and Kevin Foote (Western Force) as examples of Varsity Cup head coaches who have moved up after being involved in the tournament at some point.
A proud Bosman added "we will always keep track of our graduates – a player like Eben Etzebeth immediately springs to mind – but it's also worth noting that the Springboks ended last year with both tighthead props having been Varsity Cup players at one point.
"We're immensely proud of such achievements, but, at the same time, we remain thankful to our sponsors, the universities and, of course, the supporters for their continued support of Varsity Rugby."
* The FNB NMMU Madibaz will host the FNB Maties in Port Elizabeth onMonday 3 February at 4.45pm, with defending champions FNB UP-Tuks hosting FNB UJ at 7pm in the first of two televised matches in Round One.
The other two first-round matches taking place on 3 February will see the FNB Ikeys from UCT entertain the FNB NWU-Pukke in Cape Town at 5pm, while FNB UFS-Shimlas will host FNB Wits in Bloemfontein at 7pm.
