Varsity Cup approves relegation scrap
The highly successful Varsity Cup will add a new feature to it’s exciting format, in the shape of a relegation play-off.
It is stipulated in the constitution of Varsity Cup that universities outside the original eight, must get the opportunity to qualify for Varsity Cup.
The constitution states that the management of USSA (University Sports South Africa) must nominate the best team who is not part of Varsity Cup at the USSA tournament and that team will play the number eight team in two promotion/relegation matches.
The USSA management decided that the University of Fort Hare will get the chance to qualify for Varsity Cup 2009.
They play against Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) on Saturday 2 August in Alice and on 6 August in Port Elizabeth at 18:00. The Super 14 points system will be used for these 2 games.
Varsity Cup undertook to promote the game of rugby at Fort Hare University and the success of this venture is evident in the Fort Hare achievement.
The Rugby Institute of the Potchefstroom Campus of the North West University also lent a helping hand with the donation of a scrum machine and a four-day coaching clinic by their coach and former Scottish international Matthew Proudfoot.
Dr Maya van Gent, chairperson of the Fort Hare rugby club and head of the Human Movement Sciences stated that the assistance from Varsity Cup, SARU and the Pukke was of great value.
She said that they have loads of talent just waiting to be discovered and developed. She also said that it is fact a pity that one Eastern Cape university may close the door for another Eastern Cape university.
