FNB Rhodes Varsity Shield Rugby history
Varsi arsity Shield rugby comes to Gra Grahamstown for the first time in it its history, as Rhodes Rugby looks to s show South Africa that they can com compete against some of the best un universities in the country. Gra Grahamstown plays host to its firstfirs Varsity Shield match on Mond Monday 13 February at 6.30pm, and the team is hoping to fill Rhod Rhodes University Great Field with Grahamstown locals. Rh Rhodes Rugby is prepared for the tough season ahead. FNB Rhod Rhodes University Head Coach Qond Qondakele Sompondo believes the co coaching team is comfortable that abo about 60 percent of the squad are capa capable of playing 80 minutes. Sompon Sompondo selected only the players he felt were capable of playing a full 80 for t the opening fixture against Tshwane Un University of Technology in Pretoria last night. The rem remainder of the squad remained in Grahamstown in order to train for th the first home match of the season. “My dre dream since starting here at Rhodes in 2012 has been to fill the stands of the Great field with Grahamstonians,”onians,” Sompondo said. This is a goal that thee team hopes to achieve during their first home e game.
Sompondo believes Varsityy Rugby has the power to unify and equalise smallmall towns, as he has seen the effect that it has s had on Stellenbosch and Potchefstroom.
“Varsity Cup and Varsity Shield eld are known for their social alignment,” Sompondoondo said. “I think it will greatly benefit the entireire Grahamstown community economically; but t more than that, because of the social nature of the competition, the greater community will benefit,” he said.
Sompondo believes Rhodes s Rugby is a team of Grahamstown, for Grahamsrahamstown, and as such he hopes thatat people will flock to Great Field on n Monday in order to fill the grandstands. ands.
“It would mean a lot to me e [and the players], as it has always been a goal of mine to have the field d filled with the people of Grahamstown,”mstown,” Sompondo said.
Rhodes Rugby recently pledgeddged that if they win the Varsity Shield, the prize ze money will be donated to students in need of financial support, thus further supporting the needs of the community. sport@grocotts.co.zaort@grocotts.co.za 9 FFebruary FNB TUT 16 vs FNB Rhodes 12 13 FebFebruary: FNB Rhodes vs FNB CPUT (6.30pm)30pm) 20 FebFebruary: FNB UWC vs FNB Rhodes (6.30pm)0pm) 27 FebFebruary: FNB Rhodes vs FNB UFH (6.30pm)0pm) 13 MMarch: FNB Rhodes vs FNB WSU (6.30pm)pm) 20 MMarch: FNB UKZN vs FNB Rhodes (6.30pm)0pm) Follow the FNB RRhodes action on Grocott’s Mail Sport Facebook page or @GrocottsSport on Twitter