Exciting new format will raise the bar

RHODES University head coach Qondakele Sompondo says his team want to introduce a fresh brand of rugby to the Varsity Shield when they make their debut in the competition next year.

Ambitious Grahamstown varsity, along with Cape Peninsula University of Technology and Walter Sisulu University, are the new universities in the tournament.

The tournament kicks off on February 9 and has grown from five to seven teams. A daunting task awaits the new trio as all their opening matches are away games.

It’s an all-Cape affair in the season opener as UWC host neighbours CPUT while Rhodes travel to Tshwane to face TUT.

The final new kid on the block, WSU, will be hosted at the Davidson Stadium by UFH which will be one of the two televised Varsity Shield matches on SuperSport.

“It all started in 2012 when I took over a team with nothing,” said Sompondo.

“We are a young, driven and ambitious side and we hope to use the platform to introduce a fresh brand of rugby. Rhodes are in the middle of their preparations. We will be back in camp on January 4. We are all looking forward to our first season in the Shield competition.

“It has been a five-year journey for all of us from 2012,” said Sompondo.

The organisers have introduced rule changes to encourage attacking play.

“Varsity Cup has become a highlight on the rugby-mad South African’s sporting calendar as fans look forward to a unique and entertaining sporting display every Monday night,” Varsity Cup manager Xhanti-Lomzi Nesi, said.

“There is great excitement around the eagerly anticipated try-scoring rule this season, which will see a try counting seven points when originating from anywhere in a team’s own half, and five points if in the opposition half.

“This rule will reward teams that score tries without surrendering possession, running it in from their own half.

“The amended mauling law and scrumming law also add an exciting dimension to the playing conditions in 2016, decreasing the amount of time spent resetting these two aspects of play.”

The Varsity Cup kicks off with a game in January with all the top teams in action.

For the first time since its inception in 2008, the competition will feature a total of nine teams.

The popular varsity competition celebrates years of Rocking Rugby in 2017.

Teams will do battle over 12 weeks aiming to be crowned the best university rugby team in the country. For the first time in the tournament’s history, Varsity Cup teams will now each enjoy a bye during the round-robin stage, with four home and four away games being played.

“Six years ago Heyneke Meyer suggested the competition look into an equal home and away format, and today, with the extra team added, we are finally there,” Duitser Bosman, the Varsity Cup chief executive said.

The Madibaz play their first match in the Varsity Cup against UCT on January 30. 10