The Varsity Cup again starts brightening Monday evenings on 3 February 2020. Like many other competitions and tournaments the Varsity Cup has become a laboratory for experimenting with the laws of the game, the players guinea pigs.
There are two laws which exist only in the Varsity Cup, colourful laws, one red and one pink.
1. Red Card
In most rugby, a red card is an indication to a player that his game is over, he may not play again and his team will have to play the rest of the match a man short.
It is partly different for the Varsity Cup. The red-carded player’s match if over but his team has a reprieve, for after 15 minutes they are allowed to send on a replacement so that they no longer have to play a man short,
The player who replaces the carded player may well be a bench player who has not played before but may also come from the group of players previously substituted.
Varsity Cup laws state:
The replacement may come from the remaining replacements allocation or from players that were tactical replaced.
It does not affect their remaining replacement allocation, but it may have an effect whether a team will be able to use their full allocation if remaining reserves are used instead of tactically replaced reserves.
2. Strategy Breaks
There will be a strategy break in each half – between the 18th and 22nd minute of each half.
Each strategy break lasts two minutes.
3. Pink Ball
The pink ball will be in play for a period of two minutes following the strategy break. If the home team scores a try while the pink ball is in play. sponsors donate a total of R7 500 to a shelter for women chosen by the home team.
4. Team numbers
Each team must have 23 players in their match day squad. Included in the 23 are two props and a hooker.
5. Uncontested scrums
Scrums become uncontested if a team does not have suitably trained players to play in the front row.
The team that causes uncontested scrum must finish the game with 14 players, unless the a team has lost front-row because of bleeding and has not suitably trained player to take his place. But if the bleeding player is unable to return to the game, the team will be reduced to 14 players.
6. Scoring
The value of points scored is the same as for ordinary rugby, except in the case where a team scores the try from within its own half, in which case the try is worth seven points.
Points’ Value:
Try from own half: 7 points
Try: 5 points
Penalty goal: 3 points
Drop goal: 3 points
Conversion: 2 points
7. Fair catch/Mark
Team will be awarded a free kick for a ball caught directly from an opponent’s kick.
Directly means without touching the ground or another player before it is caught.
The catcher does not need to give any indication that he is claiming a free kick.
The referee allows play to go on unless there is no advantage to the catcher’s team.
8. White Card
The white for the use of the coach or captain of each team to appeal against a referee’s decision.
The white card will be used only in the semifinals and final of the Varsity Cup.
