Grahamstown side set for first season in Varsity Shield competition
RHODES University head coach Qondakele Sompondo’s team want to introduce a fresh brand of rugby to the Varsity Shield when they make their debut in the competition next year.
The ambitious Grahamstown varsity, along with the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) and the Walter Sisulu University (WSU), are the new universities in the tournament.
The tournament has grown from five to seven teams and a daunting task awaits the new trio, as all of their opening matches are away games.
The Varsity Shield starts on February 9, with the opener an all-Cape affair, as the University of the Western Cape (UWC) host neighbours CPUT, while Rhodes travel to Pretoria to face the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).
WSU will be hosted at the Davidson Stadium by the University of Fort Hare (UFH), one of two Varsity Shield matches to be televised on SuperSport.
“It all started in 2012, when I took over a team with nothing,” Sompondo said. “We are a young, driven and ambitious side and are hoping to use the platform to introduce a fresh brand of rugby not seen before.
“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 fiveyear journey for all of us, from 2012,” Sompondo said.
The organisers have introduced rule changes to encourage attacking play.
Varsity Cup manager XhantiLomzi Nesi said: “The 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.”
“There is excitement around the 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 added an exciting dimension to the playing conditions in 2016, decreasing the amount of time spent resetting these two aspects of play,” Nesi said.
Meanwhile, the big Varsity Cup kicks off in January with all the top teams in action. For the first time since its 2008 inception, the competition will feature a total of nine teams.
Even more exciting is that the popular varsity competition will celebrate 10 years of Rocking Rugby next year.
The teams will do battle over 12 weeks, hoping to be crowned the best university rugby side.
For the first time in the tournament’s history, the Varsity Cup teams will each enjoy a bye during the round robin stage, with four home and four away games being played.
Varsity Cup chief executive Duitser Bosman said: “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.”
The Madibaz play their first match against UCT on January 30 at the Tygerberg Stadium.