2010 Koshuis season - Bigger and better!
The 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships kicks-off on Monday, February 22 and this year’s tournament promises to be bigger and better than ever before.
Played at the same time as the Varsity Cup (as curtain-raisers to the ‘main’ games), the Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Champs has quickly developed a massive following – mainly because it gives the eight universities yet another opportunity to claim bragging rights, but also because it is such a huge tournament in its own right.
Just like the Varsity Cup, only the best eight teams (whittled down from an initially staggering 194 sides) get to compete in this competition, whilst players are flown across their geographical regions – North and South – during the tournament.
All competing teams get jerseys, socks and shorts sponsored by their generous sponsors, Steinhoff, whilst the sides also get all their travel expenses – flights, busses and accommodation – taken care of during the season.
As an added bonus, the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Final will once again be televised and played as a curtain-raiser to the 2010 Varsity Cup Final, whilst prize money of R15,000 will be up for grabs for the winning Koshuis and the Man of the Match in the final will receive an all-inclusive Chauffeur Drive anywhere in SA proudly sponsored by Hertz (worth R2,000).
Looking ahead to the 2010 Koshuis season, Derrik Matthew – Marketing Executive Corporate Branding, Steinhoff International – said: “We feel that Koshuisrugby is the engine-room of university rugby. We enjoy the passion, commitment, loyalty and fun of Koshuisrugby; all of which are characteristics that Steinhoff International identifies with.”
Speaking about Steinhoff’s successful involvement with the Varsity Cup and the very popular Koshuisrugby Championships, he added: “Prior to Varsity Cup, in 2006, Steinhoff entered into sport, academic and cultural sponsorships amongst which was the major sponsorship of rugby at Stellenbosch University including their very substantial Koshuisrugby leagues.
“The Varsity Cup has since given us the opportunity to support an additional seven universities in which together with them we have been able to add value.”
Looking at the eight teams that will be competing in the 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Champs; the defending champions, Huis Armentum (from Shimlas), will not be back to defend their title – despite beating all and sundry en route to lifting the 2009 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships trophy (pictured, above!).
Steinhoff Vishuis will, instead, represent Shimlas in 2010 and they will be joined in the Southern section by Steinhoff Dagbreek (Maties), Steinhoff Tornadoes (UCT) and Steinhoff Madibaz (NMMU) – all of whom are new teams.
In the Northern section, meanwhile, only Steinhoff Maroela (from Tuks) will be returning this season – from last year, with Steinhoff Villagers (Pukke), Steinhoff Bastion (UJ) and Steinhoff Patriot (TUT) all new sides in the competition.
Each group (North and South) will play a single round of league matches, followed by a semifinal where the second seed of one group will play the first seed of the other and vice versa.
Week One Steinhoff Koshuisrugby fixtures (February 22):
NORTH:
Steinhoff Villagers (Pukke) v Steinhoff Bastion (UJ)
Fanie du Toit Stadium, Potchefstroom – 5pm
Steinhoff Maroela (Tukkies) v Steinhoff Patriot (TUT)
Tuks Rugby Stadium, Pretoria – 5pm
SOUTH:
Steinhoff Tornadoes (UCT) v Steinhoff Madibaz (NMMU)
Groote Schuur Fields, Cape Town – 2.45pm
Steinhoff Dagbreek (Maties) v Steinhoff Visuis (Shimlas)
Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch – 6pm
Click HERE for the full list of 2010 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships fixtures!
About Steinhoff International:
Steinhoff is a well-known and top 40 listed company on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, with a market capitalisation of approximately R30-billion.
The strategic product offering focuses on furniture, beds and related home wares and in Africa includes integrated raw material and logistics operations and the retail of automotive and building supplies.
Some of the well-known companies that are within the African portfolio are: Unitrans, PG Bison, Timbercity, Penny Pinchers, Hertz and Bison Board – just some of the outstanding companies that add value to their African operations.
