Ivan van Rooyen: 'What we look for in a Varsity Cup player'

SPOTLIGHT: Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen believes the Varsity Cup is a tool to help develop young talent and illuminates those players that are ready to make the step up into higher competitions.

In an interview with varsitycup.co.za Van Rooyen opened up about the importance of the tournament and how the Lions go about sifting through the talent on show every Monday.

“It plays an integral part in not just our development but the South African development. Guys like Malcolm Marx and Jaco Kriel played both Varsity Cup and for us.

“Because of the laws, it has changed a little bit. It also allows them to play in front of people and compete at a high level early in their careers,” said van Rooyen.

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Van Rooyen also touched on how the Varsity Cup has become younger, which benefits their selection process.

“I think the Varsity Cup has turned younger, which is good for us because we tend to select a little younger than some of the other teams.

“So, having Likhona Finca, for instance, as a 19-year-old last year playing for UJ and excelling, that allowed him to play for SA Under-20s,” he said.

When discussing what traits they look for in players, van Rooyen explained, “We look for guys who have energy around them and are keen to get involved. Guys who want to get the ball in hand and make good hits,” he added.

“Players who understand the pressure of the game and can execute under pressure. The higher the level of competition, the less time we have, so the better quality players are those who can make better decisions under pressure.

“Varsity Cup is a big step up from schoolboy rugby, Under-19 rugby, or even Young Guns. It’s about seeing who can handle pressure and make the right decisions.”

“The difference between international rugby and Varsity Cup rugby is that it’s a lot quicker. It takes your time away from decision-making. We have a saying: ‘The movie is too quick,’ and I think you can see at Varsity Cup level who can adjust and who is ready.”

Van Rooyen also shared his excitement about seeing younger players develop.

“It’s exciting to see younger players expressing themselves. It almost feels like, because there’s a little less pressure, they can really get out of their shells, express themselves, have a go, and find their feet. It sets a platform for their future in senior rugby,” he concluded.

Source @varsitycup