Varsity Cup is back and will be taking over campuses across the country.
Mark your calendars for February 14 as the premier university rugby competition makes a comeback. The 15th instalment of South Africa’s ground-breaking tournament looks to bounce back from a challenging two years caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ten teams will be battling it out through nine rounds to see who will be the university rugby kings while also trying to avoid being one of two teams that will be relegated.
Varsity Cup tournament manager Xhanti-Lomzi Nesi said, “We’re expecting a fiercely competitive tournament. Two teams will be relegated to the FNB Varsity Shield at the end of the 2022 season, so there is certainly a lot on the line. The FNB Varsity Cup has always prioritised innovation, pushing the boundaries and changing the lives of those who form part of the community.”
The 2021 edition on the tournament was played in a bio-bubble at the University of Pretoria. This means that this year’s Varsity Cup will be the first time since 2020 that universities will be able to host their own games in front of their home crowds.
Nesi added, “The South African sporting community has endured a tough time of it over the past two years, so it’s great to see the FNB Varsity Cup returning to the participating universities across the nation. We’re particularly excited to have the fans back in the stadiums.”
Varsity Cup will also be putting the spotlight on mental health as this season there will be an FNB Varsity Cup’s Pink Shorts campaign. This aims to raise awareness around the mental health of student-athletes. Nesi said. “Following a disruptive two-year period due to the pandemic, students have been forced to study remotely. It has taken a toll. We aim to raise awareness and acknowledge the challenges that these rugby players face on a daily basis.”
The tournament will open up with North-West University hosting the University of Cape Town before defending champions, the University of Pretoria, taking on five-time winners, Stellenbosch University. Local favourites, Wits University and the University of Johannesburg, will face Nelson Mandela University and the Central University of Technology, respectively.
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