Vikings to 'fight it out' for TUT

The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) will have a new look in 2010 – just in time for the third edition of the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.

The TUT Vikings will compete in next year’s Varsity Cup – meaning a new logo, a new playing strip; in fact, a whole new identity for the Men from Tshwane.

TUT’s Rugby Manager, Jimmy Watt, explained the thinking behind the launch of this new brand: “We need a brand that all the young people at TUT, and indeed around the country, can identify with and I believe we’ve achieved it with the TUT Vikings.

“We merged with other technicons and institutions at the start of 2004, but we never gave our students, supporters and alumni a brand to back. Now, however, we have that brand and it’s a very exciting opportunity for everyone involved at the TUT Vikings.”

He added to varsitycup.co.za: “We want to build our university into a brand – a brand that people are proud of… and also a brand that people want to support and buy into.”

Speaking about TUT’s new playing strip, an excited Watt continued: “We’re going to be playing in royal blue from now on – as it’s our corporate colours – and the new TUT Vikings logo will fit in perfectly with this change [of playing colour].”

Of course, the timing of TUT’s new Vikings brand could not be any better, with the 2010 Varsity Cup just a few short weeks away.

The 2010 Varsity Cup kicks-off with two double headers on Monday, February 1 – with two games taking place in Port Elizabeth (the home of NMMU) and two matches being hosted ‘down the road’ from TUT, at Tukkies.

“Last year [2009] wasn’t our best Varsity Cup campaign,” admitted Watt, “being involved in that promotion/relegations scrap is not something we want to experience ever again at TUT.

“There is a wonderful new energy at the rugby club at the moment. A lot of young, talented players want to play Varsity Cup rugby for us and we want them to help spread the TUT Vikings brand to the next generation of players and students.

“At the same time, we also want to establish ourselves in the Varsity Cup – the TUT Vikings can become a strong Varsity Cup brand in two years’ time; I have no doubt about that!”