Press releases
'Back your Boytjies' in 2010 Varsity Cup
The third chapter of the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International will kick-off on Monday, February 1 and the organising committee and sponsors are urging the rugby public and various university supporters to 'Back your Boytjies' in 2010!
This message came across strongly as the 2010 Varsity Cup was launched at the University of Johannesburg on Monday afternoon, with the country's top university coaches and captains in attendance - along with the brand-new Varsity Cup refereeing panel and special guests, from the SA rugby fraternity and the tournament's loyal sponsors.
Former Springbok winger Breyton Paulse - who these days earns his bread as a television analyst - was the Master of Ceremonies at the well-organised launch and he ran a superb function at the home of UJ rugby which was also attended by SA's top rugby writers.
"The Varsity Cup is an asset to SA Rugby because it gives so many players something to play for in that crucial period between junior rugby and senior provincial rugby," said Mervin Green, SA Rugby's Youth and Club Rugby Manager. "Thank you to the sponsors for investing into SA Rugby."
Francois Pienaar, one of the founders of this ground-breaking tournament, commented: "Between the pink shorts, Miss Varsity Cup, South Africa Rocks campaign and many other initiatives, the 2010 Varsity Cup promises to be more exciting and entertaining than previous years.
"The bar at coaching level is being lifted a little more again this year and that should add even more value to SA Rugby and to the Varsity Cup product (than it did in previous years)."
Pienaar, of course, has stepped down from his role as chairman, but he will continue to serve the tournament in his role as Head of Sponsorships on the Varsity Cup Board.
In turn, the new Varsity Cup Chairman, Jurie Roux, was in attendance at Monday's launch and he said: "We are truly honoured to have one of the stalwarts of SA Rugby - the South African Breweries - heavily involved, again, in this development side of the game through Carling Black Label, who are coming on board as 'new' sponsors.
"It's also a massive step forward for us to have the SA Referees, here, and forming part of this launch," added Roux. "The referees form an integral part of the product that is the Varsity Cup and our approach is to embrace that.
"The Varsity Cup continues to be in harmony with USSA and SA Rugby and would like extend a word of thanks to them for their support in continuing to make this such an appealing competition."
On the playing field, Maties head coach Chean Roux will be hoping to make it a hat-trick of Varsity Cup triumphs in 2010, but he knows the other teams will be out to get the Men from Stellenbosch.
Last year's losing finalists, the powerful NWU-Pukke - who will be coached by Rudy Joubert - will no doubt challenge strongly again, as will last year's other semifinalists, John Dobson's exciting Ikey Tigers, and Freddie Grobler's dogged Tukkies team.
UJ, with Hugo van As taking the reins once again, and Shimlas (head coach Jaco Swanepoel) will be pushing hard for first-time semifinal places - especially after their near-misses in 2008 and 2009 - and NMMU and TUT - coached by Kolie Brandt and Alex de Kock (Jimmy Watt is still involved as forwards coach), respectively - are very confident of making more progress come the 2010 Varsity Cup.
"This tournament just keeps getting bigger and better," enthused Chean Roux. "I know it might sound a bit clichéd, but if we don't stay ahead of the pack we will get caught and eventually left behind.
"We're obviously looking forward to the start of the 2010 Varsity Cup, but there is also a great excitement amongst the rugby public and I think there is a big buzz because the people out there know that the Varsity Cup always throws up a few new rugby talents - that's the beauty of this tournament and why it's been so popular since its inception."
For more on the 2010 Varsity Cup - including comments from all the coaches and the full list of fixtures - visit www.varsitycup.co.za.
'Ondersteun jul ouens' in die 2010 Varsitybeker
Die derde uitgawe van die FNB Varsitybekerreeks, aanghebied deur Steinhoff International, sal Maandag 1 Februarie afskop, met die organiseerders en borge wat die rugbypubliek en die onderskeie universiteite aanspoor met die 2010 slagspreuk 'ondersteun jul ouens'.
Hierdie boodskap het sterk deurgekom toe die 2010 Varsitybdeker-toernooi Maandagmiddag by die Universiteit van Johannesburg van stapel gestuur is, 'n gerleentheid wat deur die land se voorste universiteits-afrigters en kapteins bygewoon is. Ook teenwoordig was die nuutgevonde universiteits-skeidsregterspaneel en 'n aantal spesiale gaste, wat SA Rugby en ook die toernooi se lojale borge.
Die voormalige Springbokvleuel Breyton Paulse, wat deesdae sy brood as 'n rugbykenner op televisie verdien, was die seremoniemeester tydens 'n goed-georganiseerde funksie by die tuiste van UJ rugby, waar die reeks van stapel gestuur is - 'n geleentheid wat ook deur van die vooorste rugbyskrywers in Suid-Afrika bygewoon is.
"Die Varsitybeker is 'n groot bate vir SA Rugby, want dit verskaf 'n geleentheid aan só baie jong spelers in 'n kretieke tydperk tussen junior en senior rugby op provinsiale vlak," het Mervin Green, die voorsitter van junior en klubrugby by SA Rugby, tydens die geleentheid gesê.
"Dankie ook aan die borge wat só getrou in SA rugby belê."
Francois Pienaar, een van die stigterslede van hierdie reeks wat merkwaardig is vir die nuwe grond wat dit betree, was nêt só opgewonde: "Met die pienk broeke veldtog, Mej Varsitybeker, die SA Rugby rock tema en talle ander inisiatiewe, beloof die 2010 weergawe van die Varsitybekerreeks om meer opwinding en vermaak as die vorige jare te verskaf.
"Die gehalte van die afrigting sal vanjaar weereens hoër wees en dit behoort nog meer waarde aan SA Rugby en die Varsitybeker-produk te heg [as wat die vorige jare)"
Pienaar is nie weer vanjaar die voorsitter van die toernooi nie, maar as die Hoof vanm borge en 'n Varsitybeker-raadsli dien hy steeds die reeks.
Die nuwe voorsitter van die Varsitybeker, Jurie Roux, het ook Maandag se geleetheid bygewoon.
"Ons is werklik bevoorreg om een van die staatmakers van SA Rugby - SA Brouerye - weer so nou betrokke te hê by die reeks, met 'n ontwikkelings-aspek in die vorm van Carling Black Label wat as 'n 'nuwe' borg by ons aansluit," het Roux gesê.
"Dit is ook 'n groot stap vorentoe vir ons om die SA Skeidsregters hier teenwoordig en deel van hierdie geleentheid te hê. Skeidsregters is 'n integrale deel van hierdie produk, die Varsitybeker, en dit is belangrik dat ons dit aangryp.
"Die Varsitybeker bly steeds in harmonie met USSA en SA Rugby en ek wil hulle hartlik bedank vir hul volgehoue ondersteuning van hierdie bekoorlike reeks."
Met 'n blik op die speelveld is daar Maties se hoofafrigter Chean Roux, wat hoop om dit vanjaar 'n driekuns van oorwinnings in die Varsitybekerreeks te maak - maar ons moet nie uit die oog verloor dat die ander universiteite vasberade gaan wees om die manne van Stellenbosch te onttroon nie.
Die kragtige NWU-Pukke span, afgerig deur Rudy Joubert, sal graag vanjaar een stappie verder wil vorder as verlede jaar, toe hulle in die eindstryd geklop is. Dan is daar ook die ander twee spanne wat in die halfeindstryd uitgeskakel is, John Dobson se opwindende Ikey Tigers en die hardnekkige Tukkies span van Freddie Grobler.
UJ, waar Hugo van As weer in beheer van sake is, en Shimlas (Jaco Swanepoel as hoofafrigter) gaan alles in die stryd werp vir hulle universiteite om die eerste keer die halfeindrondte te haal - veral ná hulle in 2008 en 2009 in die pylvak geklop is. Ons moet ook nie van NMMU en TUT vergeet nie - wat onderskeidelik deur Kolie Brandt en Alex de Kock (Jimmy Watt steeds betrokke as voorspeler-afrigter) gebrei word. Ook hulle is vol selfvertroue om vanjaar 'n groter impak op die reeks te hê.
"Hierdie toernooi word elke jaar net groter en beter," het Chean Roux gesê. "Ek weet dit klink soos 'n afgesaagde uitdrukking, maar indien ons nie voorbly in die wedloop nie gaan die trop ons inhaal en gou agterlaat.
"Ons sien gewis uit na die 2010 weergawe van die Varsitybekerreeks. Daar is ook groot opgewondenheid van die rugbypubliek se kant en daar is groot afwagting vir die Varsitybekerreeks, want die publiek weet dat die toernooi elke jaar 'n aantal opwindende nuwe talentevolle spelers oplewer - wat een van die groot aantrekkings van dié reeks is en waarom hy reeds sedert sy aanvang só populêr is."
Vir meer oor die 2010 Varsitybeker - met kommentaar van al die afrigters en 'n volledige lys bepalings - besoek www.varsitycup.co.za.