Varsity Cup Rugby, which now consists of the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International, the Varsity Shield, the Varsity Young Guns and the Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships (four ‘properties’ in all), will be trialing a new points-scoring system in 2012 – an experiment which could revolutionalise rugby union.

Thanks to a special dispensation from the International Rugby Board, the Varsity Cup Rugby organisers have changed around the value of points for the four 2012 Varsity Cup Rugby competitions – conversions will be worth three points and penalties and drop-goals will be worth just two points.

This means that four penalties or four drop-goals will equal to one converted try on the scoreboard, putting the emphasis back on tries to win matches… and, ultimately, trophies.

Varsity Cup Managing Director Duitser Bosman explained on varsitycup.co.za: “Our intention with this trial is to cement a culture of try-scoring in the various Varsity Cup Rugby properties. After all, rugby is about entertainment… and tries are entertaining.

“At the same time, however, the importance of the kicker must always be respected and that’s why we have increased the value of the conversion – giving teams something of a ‘bonus’ to aim towards.”

The Varsity Cup, which first began in 2008, is no stranger to experimentation – both in terms of law changes and off-field fun – and Bosman added: “The Varsity Cup has added tremendous value to South African rugby and we’ve always been up for experimenting – as we did with the white cards and the ELVs.

South African Referees Manager André Watson expressed his delight at this latest trial – despite being aware of the hard work that lay ahead for everyone involved.

“We have a great relationship with the Varsity Cup when it comes to trialing and experimenting with good ideas,” said Watson, “but, as usual, this trial involves plenty of hard work. We will be keeping dedicated statistics and monitor the results as the tournament goes along.

“There is a possibility that we could pay a price somewhere along the line in a bid to create more tries, but we will be having a briefing with the various Varsity Cup Rugby coaches and referees in late January and we will have to up-skill everyone and we aware of the potential pitfalls.

“The key, however, is that you’ll never know something until you try it. One would think this experiment would definitely lead to more tries… but you’d also imagine that a few more penalties will be conceded on purpose… the exciting part is that we’ll soon see for ourselves how this works out.”

Ikey Tigers head coach Kevin Foote, whose team will be defending their title come 2012, is also excited as this new change could benefit the Capetonians who are renowned for their try-scoring exploits.

“Everyone loves to see loads of tries scored,” said Foote, “and UCT have always been a team keen on giving the ball air and (thereby) reaping the rewards; rewards which are now that much greater with a possible eight points up for grabs (as a converted try).

“Of course, winning remains our only priority and we need to ensure we retain our discipline on both attack and defence throughout – no matter how many points are at stake.”

The 2012 Varsity Cup Rugby season gets underway on Monday, January 30 with the Varsity Shield, followed by the Cup and Young Guns the following Monday (February 6) and the Koshuisrugby Championships on February 13.

The fixtures for all 2012 Varsity Cup Rugby tournaments can be found on www.varsitycup.co.za.

(www.news24.co.za)

Pukke left wing Johannes Seerane goes over for his team’s decisive try during their 19-14 SARU National Club Championship final victory over UJ at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Friday.The Pukke team celebrate after winning the 2011 SARU National Club Championship title after a 19-14 victory over UJ in the final at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Friday. Photo allianceph

NWU-Pukke won their fourth SARU National Club Championship title in eight years when they beat the University of Johannesburg 19-14 in a tense final played at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Friday.

The Potchefstroom students, who were given little chance heading into the tournament, after a disappointing FNB Varsity Cup campaign and a semi-final loss to Raiders in the Golden Lions’ Predator League, showed that they are nevertheless past masters of tournament rugby.

In the first-ever final between the two teams in the competition’s 37-year history, Puk’s heroes were scrumhalf Jean Tiedt, who nervelessly kicked 14 points by way of four penalties and a conversion, and left wing Johannes Seerane, who scored the deciding try of a tightly-contested match after having scored a brace in their 39-36 semi-final win over hosts Maties.

Seerane was deservedly named backline player of the tournament for his efforts.

In the first final since 2007 to feature two university teams, and the first since 2004 between two northern-union teams, UJ enjoyed a slender 8-6 lead at the break, thanks to a try from wing Lolo Waka and a penalty from Luan Steenkamp.

But the Johannesburg students, who were aiming for a third trophy in 2011 after winning the Golden Lions’ Pirates Grand Challenge and Predator Leagues, could not convert their chances when it mattered despite dominating upfront.

UJ, who ended defending champions College Rovers’ two-year unbeaten run in the semi-finals, when they held on for a nailbiting 27-26 victory, did however have the consolation of having lock Marnus van Huyssteen and eighthman Justin Wheeler announced as forward and overall player of the tournament respectively.

In the Plate competition, Shimlas withstood a late onslaught from Boland champions Roses United to run out 48-26 winners and so claim their third consecutive title.

Awards:

Forward Player of the Tournament: Marnus van Huyssteen (UJ)

Backline Player of the Tournament: Johannes Seerane (Pukke)

Player of the Tournament: Justin Wheeler (UJ)

Tournament results:

Cup final

UJ 14 – Try: Lolo Waka. Penalties: Luan Steenkamp (3).

Pukke 19 – Try: Johannes Seerane. Conversion: Jean Tiedt. Penalties: Tiedt (4).

Plate final

Shimlas 48 – Tries: Henk Eksteen (2), Shaun Blignaut (3), Erik le Roux (2), Gerrit Theron. Conversion: Reinhardt Erwee (4).

Roses United 26 – Tries: Clinton Oncker, Angelo Booyse, Ashton Constant, Geoffrey Allies. Conversions: Jacquin Jansen (3).

Cup semi-finals:

College Rovers 26 UJ 27

Maties 36 Pukke 39

Plate semi-finals:

Shimlas 85 Noordelikes 0

Roses United 40 Progress 27

Cup quarter-finals:

College Rovers 44 Winter Rose 6

Maties 43 Tuks 22

UJ 41 Welkom Rovers 20

Pukke 37 Park 14

Plate quarter-finals:

Shimlas 29 SK Walmers 15

Roses United 40 Middelburg 22

Noordelikes 29 Springs 27

Progress 22 Kimberley Police 12

First round:

UJ 91 Noordelikes 21

Park 28 Progress 27

Shimlas 12 Winter Rose 18

Springs 36 Welkom Rovers 40

Pukke 117 Kimberley Police 0

Roses United 22 Tukkies 39

Maties 61 Middelburg 20

College Rovers 46 SK Walmers 0

UJ and MTN Golden Lions hooker Edgar Marutlulle on the charge against defending national club champions College Rovers. UJ won 27-26 to advance to Friday’s final. Photo: alliancephoto.com / Liam Hamer-Nel.

The University of Johannesburg will play NWU-Pukke in the final of the 37th National Club Championships after both teams pulled off dramatic victories in Wednesday’s Cup semi-finals at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.

UJ ended defending champions College Rovers’ incredible two-year, 42-match winning streak when they held on for a nailbiting 27-26 win in the first semi-final.

The Gauteng students scored three tries to one, to wing Wigan Pekeur, scrumhalf Jacques Pretorius and lock Marnus van Huyssteen, and were deserved winners.

But Rovers, who were not at their best, were left wondering what might have been after flyhalf Guy Cronjé, who slotted six penalties and a drop goal, missed the conversion of fullback Chris Jordaan’s injury-time try that would have given his team the win.

In the other semi-final, Pukke, thanks to two tries from flying wing Johannes Seerane, rocked hosts Maties with four first-half touchdowns to set up what looked like an unexpectedly one-sided victory.

But they didn’t bank on Maties’ fighting spirit, the hosts scoring three tries in the dying minutes to threaten a famous come-from-behind victory. In the end, however, Pukke hung on for a 39-36 win to steer them to their fifth final in eight years.

Pukke, champions in 2004, 2006 and 2008, will be playing in their first final since 2009, when they lost their crown to Hamilton in Pretoria. Friday’s final will be the first between UJ and Pukke in the competition’s 37-year history and, unusually, both teams play in the same provincial league, namely the Golden Lions’ Predator League, even though Pukke are representing the Leopards.

It will be UJ’s first final since 2005, when they lost 24-13 to Maties in Stellenbosch.

It will also be the first time since 2007 that two university teams contest the final, with College Rovers (2008 and 2010) and Hamilton (2009) featuring in the three most recent title deciders. It will also be the first all-northern final since 2004, when Pukke beat Tshwane University of Technology 41-10.

In the Plate competition, Shimlas will play Boland champions Roses United after the Bloem students beat Noordelikes 85-0 and Roses beat Progress 40-27 in a thrilling encounter.

Finals (Friday 23 Sept):

Plate: Shimlas vs Roses United 11h00 (live on SuperSport)

Cup: UJ vs Pukke 13h00 (live on SuperSport)

Day 3 results:

Cup:

College Rovers 26 vs UJ 27

Maties 36 vs NWU-Pukke 39

Plate:

Shimlas 85 vs Noordelikes 0

Roses United 40 vs Progress 27

Day 2 results:

Cup:

College Rovers 44 vs Winter Rose 6

Maties 43 vs Tuks 22

UJ 41 vs Welkom Rovers 20

Pukke 37 vs Park 14

Plate:

Shimlas 29 vs SK Walmers 15

Roses United 40 vs Middelburg 22

Noordelikes 29 vs Springs 27

Progress 22 vs Kimberley Police 12

Day 1 results:

UJ 91 vs Noordelikes 21

Park 28 vs Progress 27

Shimlas 12 vs Winter Rose 18

Springs 36 vs Welkom Rovers 40

Pukke 117 vs Kimberley Police 0

Roses United 22 vs Tukkies 39

Maties 61 vs Middelburg 20

College Rovers 46 vs SK Walmers 0

Day 1 (Monday 04 July)

WSU Buffalo 40 vs DUT 6

Maties 47 vs Rhodes 8

Fort Hare 31 vs NMMU 10

Zululand 27 vs Limpopo 3

UJ 44 vs UKZN 0

PE College 78 vs WSU Mthatha 0

Namibia 12 vs NMMU George 8

UCT 62 vs Varcity College 0

Venda 12 vs NWU Maf  7

NWU-Vaal 62 vs CIDA 0

Shimlas 50 vs UWC 10

Tuks 38 vs Wits 5

NWU Puk 51 vs CUT 5

WSU Ibika 17 vs VUT 15

TUT 17 vs CPUT Wellington 3

• Head Coach
• Senior Forward Coach
• Senior Backline Coach
• Skills/technical/tactical coach
• Conditioning specialist
• Video/Analyst specialist

This is a new 2012 exciting positions to sustain, excel and grow this highly successful Rugby Academy in South Africa.

The successful applicants will report directly to the General Manager Freddie Grobler and will work closely with all affiliated parties involved. Job Description The roles require highly organised, passionate and knowledgeable individuals who have a significant background in playing and/or coaching/mentoring at a higher or Academy level. People with a passion for Rugby and the ability to fulfil the whole coaching /mentoring role. This is a wonderful opportunity to work with youngsters to influence and educate and prepare them for life.

Key tasks will include:

• Following a structured coaching/fitness plan
• Coaching  individual techniques and skills
• Motivating and supporting
• Liaison with parents involved
• Semester reports
• Compiling player profiles
• After hours coaching, managing or support
• Structure, plan, demonstrate and implement a full training session

• Degree or National Diploma in Fitness/coaching arena or similar
• Level 2 SARU or more
• Certificate – Professional Athlete Life skills and mentorship or similar
• Specialist positions – Degree or diploma in Strength & Conditioning
• Video/Analyst – Appropriate qualification or similar

  This position is full-time on a contract period which will start January 2012.

  Candidates should forward a letter of application and CV to Freddie Grobler by clicking the direct apply link below and list full contact details of two persons who will provide a professional reference on their behalf. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and will be informed of the employment details and interview. Please be aware this is an equal opportunity Company and all applicants will be considered. If you are not informed in 3 weeks time after closing you unfortunately didn’t make the short list of candidates.

freddie.grobler@up.ac.za

• Closing date: Monday 8th August 2011 – posted 29/6/2011

Date: 21/2/2011

Venue: Tokkie Park, Bloemfontein

Referee: M. Madashe

Result: 39(27) – 38(17) to UKZN

Teams:

CUT

15 Slang Sibanda

14 Alec Mlhanga

13 Jaco Oostehuizen

12 Leon Pretorius

11 Frederick Badenhorst

10 Jannie Myburgh

9 Inus Kritzinger

8 Anton Smit

7 Jean Cook

6 Frans Sisita

5 Gavin Annadale

4 Carl Wegner

3 Werner Pretorius

2 Deon Gouws

1 Rudi Britz

16 Francois Loxton

17 Rudi Fuls

18 Danie Smith

19 Henco van Zyl

20 Egan Gysman

21 Wally Cordier

22 PW Roux

23 Perti Coetzee

UKZN

15 Kirsten Jones

14 jaco Potgieter

13 Willem Rheeder

12 Kurt Marodaris

11 Jake Adam

10 Peter Grunow

9 Zander Engelbrecht

8 Absolom Mumba

7 Robert Warnock

6 Lwazi Ngcungoma

5 Tinashe Bopoto

4 Gerrit Fourie

3 Marc Corlia

2 Justin McAnwell (c)

1 Kurt Schonert

17 Luciando Santos

18 Chris Ndlovu

19 Leon Stevens

20 Calvin Channing

22 Ricky Chirengende

23 Masisi Osterich

24 Dayne Smith

25 Wessel Booysen

Points:

UKZN

Tries – Jaco Potgieter (14); Zander Ebgelbrecht (9); Kurt Schonert (1).

Coversions – Jaco Potgieter (14) 3.

Penalties – Jaco Potgieter (14) 6.

CUT

Tries –  Slang Sibanda  (15); Alec Mhlanga (14); Leon Pretorius (12); Jean Cook (7).

Conversions – Jannie Myburgh (10) 3.

Penalties – Jannie Myburgh (10) 4.

Cards:

CUT – Carl Wegner (4), Yellow Card 19^th minute.

UKZN – Jake Adam (11), Red Card for swearing.

Replacements:

CUT

Petrie Coetzee (23) for Werner Pretorius (3)

Danie  Smit (18) for Deon Gouws (2)

Rudi Fuls (17) for Rudi Britz (1)

Egan Gysman (20) for Fredicrick Badenhorst (11)

Henco van Zyl (19) for Jean Cook (7)

Wally Cordier (21) for Jaco Oosthuizen (13)

PW Roux (22) for Leon Pretorius (12)

UKZN

Dayne Smit (24) for Kurt Schonert (1)

Luciando Santos (17) for m|Marc Colia (3)

Maziso Ostrich (23) for Lwazi Ngcungoma (6)

Wessel Booysen (25) for Kirsten Jones (15)

Calvin Channing (20) for Zander Engelbrecht (9)

Blood Bin

Leon Stevens (19) for Robert Warnock (7)

The tournament will consist of 32 teams based on a knock-out system where the losers will play in the plate section and winners continue with the cup section. Schools and youth clubs from the Western Cape have been invited to participate in the tournament. Gates open at 13h30, and tickets will be sold at the gate for R5. The tournament kicks off at 14h40.

“This is a perfect platform for young up-and-coming talent to showcase their individual skills and abilities,” said Geoff Crowster, Manager Coaching Education, WPRFU.

- Ends.

THE University of Johannesburg will look to end an 18-year title drought when they kick off their SAA National Club Championships campaign with a tough fixture against Blue Bulls champions and fellow Varsity Cup side Tuks.

The 36th edition of the country’s premiere club competition takes place from 18-24 September at the University of Stellenbosch, and will feature 14 provincial champions, title holders Hamilton and invited team Noordelike in a 16-team draw.

UJ, then still known as RAU, last won the tournament in 1992 when they beat Pretoria side Harlequins in the final. Since then, the Johannesburg students have reached three finals – in 1997, 1998 and 2005 – losing to Maties each time.

UJ will be doubly determined to make an impact this year, having failed to qualify for last year’s tournament after losing out to open club Pirates.

“One of our goals this season was to qualify for club champs and we won 17 out of 18 league games,” said UJ coach Hugo van As. “Last year we got off to a bad start while this year we were fortunate to have a bigger squad, which meant we were able to rotate players.”

Van As believed the presence of many of UJ’s Varsity Cup rivals, including Tuks, would make it a tough week. “If you have to play two or three varsity sides in one week and you pull through, then you really deserve that title,” he said. “I believe that there are a lot of factors that go into determining whether you win, including the draw and the conditioning of your players because having to play four games in such a short space of time really takes its toll on the body.

“We’ve however had a good run in the league with our squad system and I think it will benefit us in a tournament like the club champs. During the week you have to use your 25 or 26 players. There’s no way you can play so many games with the same players.”

With the Club Champs kickoff just over two weeks away, only Eastern Province have yet to confirm their champions.

Police will represent Border at the tournament after they beat defending champions Buffalo 23-16 in a nail biting the Premier League final played at the Buffalo City Stadium last week. It’s the Bobbies’ first title since 1994.

Roses United will be Boland’s representatives after finishing top of the Premier League log this season.

The Eastern Province Grand Challenge semi-finals will take place at the EPRU Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Friday, with Gardens taking on champions Park at 18h30, followed by SAPS vs Progress at 20h00.

Police and Park dominated Pool A of the 14-team competition, with each side winning 10 of their 12 league matches to finish on 50 and 47 league points respectively – 12 points clear of third-placed Harlequins. Gardens (49) and Progress (46) did likewise in Pool B, with 12 points separating them from Crusaders.

Together with the Western Province Super League A, the EP Grand Challenge ranks as one of the toughest and most competitive club leagues in the country. Varsity Cup side NMMU could finish only fourth in Pool B, while 2008 champions Despatch managed just three wins in their 12 matches to finish a lowly sixth in the same group.

The draw for the first round of the SAA Club Champs is:

1 Hamilton (defending champions, WP) vs 16 Noordelike (Limpopo Blue Bulls)
2 Pukke (Leopards) vs 15 Middelburg (Mpumalanga)
3 College Rovers (KwaZulu-Natal) vs 14 Bethlehem Oud-Skoliere (Griffons)
4 Springs (Valke) vs Mossel Bay Barbarians (SWD)
5 Maties (Western Province) vs Kimberley Police (Griqualand West)
6 UJ (Golden Lions) vs 11 Tuks (Blue Bulls)
7 Roses United (Boland) vs Shimlas (Free State)
8 Police (Border) vs Eastern Province (tbc)

Issued by SARU Communications

As a result, five ‘B-Section’ universities will compete against each other in a double round competition starting next year, called the Varsity Shield – a decision that was officially ratified at the special general meeting of the Varsity Cup (Pty) Ltd in Sandton on Friday.

The five universities that will take part in the Varsity Shield are the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), the Central University of Technology (CUT – Free State), the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and Fort Hare University.

Fort Hare and UZKN have been pushing hard for Varsity Cup inclusion since 2008, while the likes of Wits, CUT and UWC will all help add depth to an already competitive tournament, which will now have 13 teams – eight in the ‘A-Section’ and five in the newly-created ‘B-Section’.

Those five teams were selected by SARU, USSA and the Varsity Cup and they will receive a direct financial sponsorship from FNB.

The kit and logistics for the Varsity Shield sides will be financed by the Varsity Cup, with all four major tournament sponsors, FNB, Steinhoff International, Carling Black Label and Olmeca Tequila, extending their sponsorship to the Varsity Shield.

Jurie Roux, chairman of the Varsity Cup Board, said Friday it was inevitable for the Varsity Cup to take its involvement to more institutions.

“Having now got 13 universities on board, the Varsity Cup will make an even more significant contribution to SA Rugby from 2011 onwards,” he said.

The Varsity Shield will run at the same time as the Cup tournament, which starts in February next year.

A promotion/relegation match will take place afterwards between the bottom team in the ‘A-Section’ and the top Varsity Shield side – to decide the line-up for the next season.

From 2012 onwards, the winner of the Varsity Shield will automatically progress to the Varsity Cup without a promotion/relegation match.

Mervin Green, SA Rugby’s youth and club rugby manager, said it was a fantastic opportunity for some of the true rugby supporting universities to show what they can do once they have the necessary support – in terms of finance and a great competition like the Varsity Shield which will give them the much-needed exposure.

[Info from Sport24.com]

Varsity Cup 2nd Round

After the 2nd Round of the Varsity Cup it has become more evident who the top title contenders might be for this exciting competition! Many factors are still to determine the outcome of future fixtures, including injuries and availability after the start of the Vodacom Cup. It is however clear at this stage that Maties, Shimlas, Ikeys and Pukke are serious title contenders!

After the First Round of Varsity Cup Fixtures it was clear that Maties will be a strong side in the 2010 competition, but neither Ikeys nor Shimlas were clear of how strong they are –having battled to a draw in windy contentions in Port Elizabeth.

We have come across a neat summary of the 2nd Round results on SA Rugby.com and would like to share this:
FNB Maties remained in first place on the Varsity Cup log after yet another exciting Monday night’s worth action – but UJ, Shimlas and UCT all made their presence felt at the top of the standings at the completion of Round Two.

The back-to-back champions smashed the TUT Vikings by 62-0 in Stellenbosch in the last game to get underway on Monday, but all the action beforehand produced the real news in Week Two of the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

In Cape Town, UCT showed they will once again be semifinal contenders in the Varsity Cup when they did well to out-scrap last year’s losing finalists, NWU-Pukke, at the Green Mile. The Ikeys recorded an 18-11 win, scoring two tries to one after trailing the visitors – who had the wind at their backs – 5-6 at half-time.

UCT’s tries were scored by centre Marcel Brache and hooker Dayne Jans, with the former also slotting a superb long-range penalty in the second half to keep his side’s noses in front at a very crucial stage of the match.

Pukke skipper Dirco Rautenbach rumbled over for his team’s customary rolling maul score, but the Men from Potchefstroom were unable to deal with the tough-tackling Ikeys who played the conditions – at their home ground, of course – a lot better.

Shimlas – who drew 30-30 with UCT last Monday – picked up their first win of the 2010 season when they smashed the NMMU Madibas 54-5 in Bloemfontein.

In the process, No.8 Boom Prinsloo became the second man this season to score four tries in one match – joining Maties inside centre Dabeon Draghoender, who, ironically, did the same last week against this very NMMU team.

Prinsloo also set up a number of his team’s other tries and was named as the official Varsity Cup Man of the Match, following in the footsteps of teammate PW van Niekerk who wore the cancer awareness pink shorts against NMMU.

Whilst UCT and Shimlas took big steps forward with their wins on Monday, UJ made some superb progress and currently find themselves in second place on the Varsity Cup log after their dramatic 34-34 draw with Tukkies in Pretoria.

Tuks – back-to-back Varsity Cup semifinalists – are still winless in the 2010 competition, having gone down 25-34 to the Pukke in last Monday’s opening round.

Flyhalf André Smith was the big hero for the visitors this week, slotting a last-minute penalty goal to level the scores at 34-all in a match that produced nine tries; with the score changing hands on numerous occasions.

SA Sevens ace Deon Helberg touched down twice for the FNB Tuks, but he was unable to help his team pick up their first win of the season and the Men from Pretoria currently find themselves in sixth place on the 2010 Varsity Cup log.

[Summary of Round 2 Fixtures from SA Rugby.com]