Border clubs to take-off in Cup push

THE Flya Cup is back with some mouthwatering clashes tomorrow as eight Border club rugby teams square off for the floating trophy and playing kit worth R40 000 at Old Selbornians Club.

Bragging rights will also be up for grabs as every team will be eager to win the annual spectacle and start the season as favourites.

The team that will finish second will receive kit worth R20 000.

Last year the cup was not played because of logistical problems as it was played in August in 2015, meaning it was too short a period to have it in the normal March period last year.

On Wednesday night, the eight teams participating in the knockout tournament gathered at the Old Selbornian Club in East London for the draw.

Defending champions, Old Boys will go head-to-head with Walter Sisulu University in the last of the four games.

Swallows and Cambridge will get the tournament under way at 2pm before East London Police lock horns with Winter Rose in the second game of the day.

Fort Hare will tussle with Buffaloes in the third game.

Flya Sportswear tournament director, Barry Neville said fans are in for good hard club rugby action.

“But it’s geared towards encouraging children and families to come and watch rugby as well,” he said.

The tournament will be played using IRB rules. But a player that receives a red card will not be eligible to play in the next game should their team progress.

However, the team will be able to replace the red-carded player after 10 minutes. A penalty try will be worth seven points. A try under poles will also be worth seven points to try and save time that would have been wasted by the conversion kick.

The clubs tried to get the tournament to be changed from being a knockout so that each team would have more than one game to play.

But Neville told them that had been decided on that teams would have one chance and if they lose, they wave the tournament goodbye.

Neville also warned clubs to respect match officials, saying ill-discipline will not be tolerated. Teams might also be fined if their supporters become unruly.

“We won’t tolerate any abuse of officials or players. This is a friendly tournament,” he said. The clubs welcomed the draw. Swallows president Zuko Matyeshane was positive that they will get the better of Cambridge.

“We will go to the next round. We are in it to win it. We know the mistakes we made in the Eastern Cape Super 12 – being over-confident, scrums and our defence – but we have worked on those,” he said.

His Cambridge counterpart Patrick Dickinson was equally confident of their chances.

“I think it’s a fair draw. It’s the first time in four seasons that we haven’t drawn Old Boys . . . I think it’s going to be a good battle,” he said.