SA Domestic Rugby Competitions and news

[PaarlBok]

Our Varsity Cup starts on monday night. This year they added a U20 competition to the Varsity, Shield and Koshuis (Boarding School) competitions, meaning it has grown into 4 structured competitions in one.

The Varsity Cup is the new production line of SA best talent and Josh Strauss the Lions captain the perfect example
Varsity Cup Site:

Strauss the ultimate underdog story

Lions captain Josh Strauss is proof that even the biggest underdog can make it big in rugby. In the process, this underdog also proved just how the Varsity Cup can help you realise your dreams.

"If you dream it you can do it. It is persistence that makes things come true," says the 25-year-old, who - along with Naas Botha - addressed the 2012 Varsity Rugby captains at a special pre-tournament function just over a week ago.
Strauss - who matriculated from Paul Roos Gymnasium in 2004 - is quiet and carries himself well with lots of humility. But he came a long way to be where he is at now.
For instance, he never played Craven Week and never played consistent First XV rugby at school either; playing just once for Paul Roos's first team - according to memory. Afterwards, playing club rugby in Cape Town and, later, going to France helped to shape him as a player.
"I played against 31-year-old Fijians who tackled the crap out of me in France," he remembers of his stint in Europe.
On his return to South Africa in 2008 he joined the Boland team for the Premier Division of the Currie Cup.
However, an unfortunate knee injury then put him out for eleven months. Tough rehab and a drive to play again saw him get an opportunity to play for the University of Stellenbosch (Maties) in the 2010 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International.
"If you get an opportunity, take it," he stresses, "and not just in rugby, but in everything!
"You know, I sat on the bench my first four Varsity Cup matches with Maties and, maybe, played the last 20 minutes of those games."
As they say, however, the rest is history... as he slowly began climbing the ranks. First he started a few matches for the Maties, then he won a Man of the Match Award and then he was part of the 2010 title-winning Stellenbosch outfit.
Then, by the end of 2010, Strauss had signed with the Lions and barely four months into their 2011 Super 15 campaign he was made their captain.
"Varsity Cup rugby is a great stepping stone to super rugby for the upcoming players. It is especially true for guys like me who did not come through the (regular) ranks at Craven Week during school years," Strauss tells varsitycup.co.za with a glint in his eye.
"They say leaders are born, it might be true in some cases. But in my case a leader was made."
Thus Strauss was made into the guy and player that he is today - the man who led the Lions to their first Currie Cup title in twelve years.
He is now the hero of Coca-Cola Park with countless fans donning his bearded mask in the crowd on matchdays.
When probed about the iconic beard and whether it would remain - or not - Strauss first smiles and then admits: "I shaved my beard before I went on holiday so that people wouldn't recognise me. But it didn't take long for it to grow back."
And with an even bigger chuckle, he adds: "I had to start shaving in Grade Six already!"
By Stefan Lotter

I'll also cover the Vodacom Competition in this thread. Sad news is that Namibia wont play because of financial and politics turmoil within their union.

 

[PaarlBok]

Varsity Cup:
Teams
Maties
NMMU
Pukke
Shimlas
Tuks
TUT
UCT
UJ

Fixture List:
Monday, February 6 - Round One:
FNB Tuks v FNB UJ (Tuks Rugby Stadium, Pretoria), 5pm (TV)
FNB UCT v FNB Shimlas (UCT Rugby Fields, Cape Town), 7pm (TV)
FNB Maties v FNB TUT (Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch), 7pm
FNB NMMU v FNB Pukke (Xerox NMMU Stadium, Port Elizabeth), 7pm

Monday, February 13 - Round Two:
FNB TUT v FNB Tuks (TUT Stadium, Tshwane) 5pm, (TV)
FNB Pukke v FNB Maties (Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds, Potchefstroom), 7pm (TV)
FNB UJ v FNB UCT (UJ Stadium, Johannesburg), 7pm
FNB Shimlas v FNB NMMU (Xerox Shimla Park, Bloemfontein), 7pm

Monday, February 20 - Round Three:
FNB UJ v FNB NMMU (UJ Stadium, Johannesburg), 5pm (TV)
FNB Tuks v FNB Pukke (Tuks Rugby Stadium, Pretoria), 7pm (TV)
FNB Maties v FNB Shimlas (Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch), 7pm
FNB TUT v FNB UCT (TUT Stadium, Tshwane), 7pm

Monday, February 27 - Round Four:
FNB NMMU v FNB UCT (Xerox NMMU Stadium, Port Elizabeth) 5pm (TV)
FNB Shimlas v FNB UJ (Xerox Shimla Park, Bloemfontein) 7pm (TV)
FNB Maties v FNB Tuks (Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch) 7pm
FNB Pukke v FNB TUT (Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds, Potchefstroom) 7pm

Monday, March 5 - Round Five:
FNB UCT v FNB Pukke (UCT Rugby Fields, Cape Town), 5pm (TV)
FNB Tuks v FNB Shimlas (Tuks Rugby Stadium, Pretoria), 7pm (TV)
FNB UJ v FNB TUT (UJ Stadium, Johannesburg), 7pm
FNB NMMU v FNB Maties (Xerox NMMU Stadium, Port Elizabeth), 7pm

Monday, March 12 - Round Six:
FNB Shimlas v FNB TUT (Xerox Shimla Park, Bloemfontein), 5pm (TV)
FNB Maties v FNB UCT (Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch), 7pm (TV)
FNB Tuks v FNB NMMU (Tuks Rugby Stadium, Pretoria), 7pm
FNB Pukke v FNB UJ (Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds, Potchefstroom), 7pm

Monday, March 19 - Round Seven:
FNB UCT v FNB Tuks (UCT Rugby Fields, Cape Town), 5pm (TV)
FNB UJ v FNB Maties (UJ Stadium, Johannesburg), 7pm (TV)
FNB Pukke v FNB Shimlas (Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds, Potchefstroom), 7pm
FNB TUT v FNB NMMU (TUT Stadium, Tshwane), 7pm

Monday, March 26 - Semifinals:
Semifinal One - Log position One v Log position Four (TBC), 4.30pm (TV)
Semifinal Two - Log position Two v Log position Three (TBC), 7pm (TV)

Monday, April 9 - Final:
Semifinal One winner v Semifinal Two winner (TBC), 7pm (TV)

Varsity Shield:
Teams:
CUT
UFH
UKZN
UWC
Wits

Fixture list:
Monday, January 30 - Round One:
Central University of Technology (CUT) v University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), FNB CUT Rugby Stadium, 5pm (TV)
University of Fort Hare (UFH) v University of the Western Cape (UWC), Davidson Rugby Stadium, 7pm (TV)

Thursday, February 2 - Round Two:
Wits v UFH, Wits Rugby Stadium, 7pm
UKZN v CUT, Peter Booysen Sports Park, 7pm

Monday, February 6 - Round Three:
Wits v UWC, Wits Rugby Stadium, 7pm
UFH v UKZN, Davidson Rugby Stadium, 7pm

Monday, February 13 - Round Four:
UWC v UKZN, UWC Sports Stadium, 7pm
CUT v UFH, FNB CUT Rugby Stadium, 7pm

Monday, February 20 - Round Five:
UWC v CUT, UWC Sport Stadium, 7pm
UKZN v Wits, Peter Booysen Sports Park, 7pm

Monday, February 27 - Round Six:
Wits v CUT, Wits Rugby Stadium, 7pm
UWC v UFH, UWC Sport Stadium, 7pm

Monday, March 5 - Round Seven:
UFH v Wits, Davidson Rugby Stadium, 5pm
CUT v UKZN, FNB CUT Rugby Stadium, 7pm

Monday, March 12 - Round Eight:
CUT v UWC, FNB CUT Rugby Stadium, 7pm
Wits v UKZN, Wits Rugby Stadium, 7pm

Monday, March 19 - Round Nine:
UWC v Wits, UWC Sports Stadium, 7pm
UKZN v UFH, Peter Booysen Sports Park, 7pm

Monday, March 26 - Round Ten:
UKZN v UWC, Peter Booysen Sports Park, 7pm
UFH v CUT, Davidson Rugby Stadium, 7pm

Monday, April 2 - Final:
Log position One v Log position Two (Top team's venue), 5pm (TV)

Monday, April 2 - Final:
Promotion/relegation match, Final venue, 3pm (TV)

Koshuis League:
Hertz Pool
February 13, 2012, 5pm UJ Stadium Bastion vs Cobras
February 20, 5pm Danie Craven Stadium Dagbreek vs Vishuis
February 27, 5pm Danie Craven Stadium Dagbreek vs Mopanie
March 5, 5pm Tuks Rugby Stadium Mopanie vs Vishuis
March 12, 5pm Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds Patria vs Bastion
March 19, 5pm Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds Patria vs Oppidani
Penny Pinchers Pool
February 13, 7pm TUT Stadium Monitor vs Mopanie
February 20, 7pm UJ Stadium Bastion vs Oppidani
February 27, 7pm Xerox NMMU Stadium Oppidani vs Cobras
March 5, 7pm UCT Rugby Fields Cobras vs Patria
March 12, 7pm Xerox Shimla Park Vishuis vs Monitor
March 19, 5pm TUT Stadium Monitor vs Dagbreek
Semifinals
March 26 - Semifinal One TBC Hertz 1 vs Pennypinchers 2
March 26 - Semifinal Two TBC Pennypinchers 1 vs Hertz 2

Final
April 2 - Final, 4.45pm TBC Winner of Semifinal 1 vs Winner of Semifinal 2

YOUNG GUNS
Teams:
Maties
NMMU
Pukke
Shimlas
Tuks
TUT
UCT
UJ

Fixture List:
6 15:00 UCT vs Shimlas
6 17:00 NMMU vs Pukke
13 15:20 TUT vs Tuks
13 17:00 Pukke vs Maties
20 15:20 UJ vs NMMU
20 17:00 TUT vs UCT
Mar-12
5 15:20 Tuks vs Shimlas
12 15:20 Shimlas vs TUT
12 17:00 Maties vs NMMU
12 17:00 Pukke vs UJ
19 15:00 UCT vs Tuks
19 17:00 UJ vs Maties

 

[luikang]

How is the Maties team looking this year?

 

[PaarlBok]

A lot of x Paarl Gym boys this year captained by Helmut Lehman
http://www.varsitycup.co.za/index.php/now-rocking/4723-its-official-helmuts-in-charge

Maties have two former Cup winners back scrummy Donald Stevens and fatty Michael de Neuilly Rice back. They will only play with contracted players.

Maties own Os

Hamman.

Expect them towin and their tea for the opener

Maties vs. TUT: Ryan Nell; Dean Hammond, Wessel Coetzee, Louis Jordaan, Tythan Adams; André Kemp, Boela Abrahams; Tertius Daniller, Sam Mabombo, Helmut Hehmann ©, Hugo Klopper, Grant Hattingh, Os Hamman, Rob Herring, Alistair Vermaak. Reserwes: Alfred Ries, Hein van der Merwe, Reniel Hugo, JP Swanepoel, Donald Stevens, André Smith, Clearance Khumalo, Brummer Badenhorst.

Klein Stokkies Hanekom injured.

 

[luikang]

UCT vs Maties and Maties vs Shimlas games would be one of the key matches. Those Shimlas team have a tradition of Grey College Boys. See how Tuks do this year as they faded a lot

 

[PaarlBok]

UCT vs Maties and Maties vs Shimlas games would be one of the key matches. Those Shimlas team have a tradition of Grey College Boys. See how Tuks do this year as they faded a lot

Haai never leave out Pukke. They are the current SA Club champs.

 

[PaarlBok]

Vodacom Cup:
North and South Sections:
TEAM
North Section
Ford Pumas
Griffons
Griquas
Leopards
MTN Golden Lions
Valke
Vodacom Blue Bulls
Welwitschias
South Section
Pampas
Boland
Border
DHL Western Province
EP Kings
Sharks
SWD Eagles
Toyota Free State

 

[luikang]

Paarl can you still remember the North vs South games we use to have?

Haai never leave out Pukke. They are the current SA Club champs.

Aah the boys from Potch but I think they're team will be ripped apart by the provincial outfit so they have to rebuild probably.

 

[PaarlBok]

Paarl can you still remember the North vs South games we use to have?



Aah the boys from Potch but I think they're team will be ripped apart by the provincial outfit so they have to rebuild probably.

Pukke vs. NMMU: SW Oosthuizen; Andrew van Wyk, Hennie Skorbinski, Joubert Engelbrecht ©, Joe Seerane; Gerhard Nortier, Tiaan Dorfling; Spanner Pretorius, Ernie Strydom, Philip de Wet, Strand Kruger, Siyanda Ndlovu, John-Roy Jenkinson, JC Oberholzer, Pens Scharneck. Reserwes: Marius Fourie, Zander de Kock, Lodewyk Uys, Siya Mdaka, Andries Botha, Ruan Jacobs, Terswin Raubenheimer, Mashudu Mafela

10 of last year in the starting 15.

http://www.suparugby.com/pages/Default.asp?More= - 1 February 2012&FeatureID=18553&SectionID=47

 

[luikang]

Pukke vs. NMMU: SW Oosthuizen; Andrew van Wyk, Hennie Skorbinski, Joubert Engelbrecht ©, Joe Seerane; Gerhard Nortier, Tiaan Dorfling; Spanner Pretorius, Ernie Strydom, Philip de Wet, Strand Kruger, Siyanda Ndlovu, John-Roy Jenkinson, JC Oberholzer, Pens Scharneck. Reserwes: Marius Fourie, Zander de Kock, Lodewyk Uys, Siya Mdaka, Andries Botha, Ruan Jacobs, Terswin Raubenheimer, Mashudu Mafela

10 of last year in the starting 15.

http://www.suparugby.com/pages/Default.asp?More= - 1 February 2012&FeatureID=18553&SectionID=47

Who serve them it was the Old Western Transvaal what are they called now again? No wonder they are doing so crap in the Cup competitions. The 5 missing were probably poached by other Unions

But wait a minute didn't UCT and the Tukkies played in the Final in 2011 where UCT won it for the first time?

 

[PaarlBok]

Mielie Boere (Wes Tvl). Final = their final Varsity Cup match of 2011.

 

[luikang]

Mielie Boere (Wes Tvl). Final = their final Varsity Cup match of 2011.

haha Mileie Boere haven't heard that name in years but you sure?

Ikeys break Varsity Cup duck
The University of Cape Town won their first FNB Varsity Cup, presented by Steinhoff international, when they beat their Pretoria rivals 26-16 at the Tuks Rugby stadium in Pretoria on Monday evening.

http://www.sarugby.net/article.aspx?category=sarugby/varsitycup&id=413447

Meanwhile a well drilled Patria from Pukke won a one-sided Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships Final 21-0 against for Maties koshuis Simonsberg.

You are thinking about the Koshuis Final

 

[PaarlBok]

http://www.sarugby.net/article.aspx?category=sarugby/clubchampionships&id=1048591

Pukke win fourth Club Champs title in eight years


September 23, 2011
NWU-Pukke won their fourth SARU National Club Championship title in eight years when they beat the University of Johannesburg 19-14 in a tense final played at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on Friday.
The Potchefstroom students, who were given little chance heading into the tournament, after a disappointing FNB Varsity Cup campaign and a semifinal loss to Raiders in the Golden Lions' Predator League, showed that they are nevertheless past masters of tournament rugby.
In the first-ever final between the two teams in the competition's 37-year history, Puk's heroes were scrumhalf Jean Tiedt, who nervelessly kicked 14 points by way of four penalties and a conversion, and left wing Johannes Seerane, who scored the deciding try of a tightly-contested match after having scored a brace in their 39-36 semifinal win over hosts Maties.
Seerane was deservedly named backline player of the tournament for his efforts.
In the first final since 2007 to feature two university teams, and the first since 2004 between two northern-union teams, UJ enjoyed a slender 8-6 lead at the break, thanks to a try from wing Lolo Waka and a penalty from Luan Steenkamp.
But the Johannesburg students, who were aiming for a third trophy in 2011 after winning the Golden Lions' Pirates Grand Challenge and Predator Leagues, could not convert their chances when it mattered despite dominating upfront.
UJ, who ended defending champions College Rovers' two-year unbeaten run in the semifinals, when they held on for a nailbiting 27-26 victory, did however have the consolation of having lock Marnus van Huyssteen and eighthman Justin Wheeler announced as forward and overall player of the tournament respectively.
In the Plate competition, Shimlas withstood a late onslaught from Boland champions Roses United to run out 48-26 winners and so claim their third consecutive title.
AWARDS:
Forward Player of the Tournament: Marnus van Huyssteen (UJ)
Backline Player of the Tournament: Johannes Seerane (Pukke)
Player of the Tournament: Justin Wheeler (UJ)

 

[luikang]

http://www.sarugby.net/article.aspx?category=sarugby/clubchampionships&id=1048591

I thought we are talking about the Varsity Cup?

 

[PaarlBok]

Haai never leave out Pukke. They are the current SA Club champs.

 

[luikang]

missed the SA Champs part sorry thought you were referring to this. Also UCT did not play in the club champs which is a 6 day tournament as the Varsity Cup is a league format tournament of home and away games.

Varsity Cup:

 

[PaarlBok]

Varsity Cup started with a bang. Ikeys vou , Maties shine at a sold out 15,000 Craven Stadium
Varsity Cup site

Three teams sound warnings...

Three teams sounded serious warnings in the first round of the 2012 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International on Monday night, but it was Shimlas who produced arguably the best performance of the lot.

The Men from Bloemfontein, winless in Cape Town until today, beat the defending champion FNB Ikey Tigers by 38-10 - claiming a four-try bonus point in the process.
FNB Shimlas led 18-5 at half-time, as they scored two tries in each half, but - ultimately - it was their deadly defence that won the day; the Men in Blue & White having enough try-scoring chances and then being left to chase the game.
Shimlas right-wing Nico Scheepers, although not a try-scorer, kicked seven from seven on a relatively windless day in the Cape and it was the Kovsies who were smiling the broadest after the opening match of the 2012 tournament.
Whilst the Ikeys lost at home, their Western Cape rivals, FNB Maties, began their 2012 campaign with a 52-2 thrashing of FNB TUT.
The Maties, no doubt still reeling from a trophy-less 2011, scored seven tries to nil, with forwards Os Hamman (prop) and Grant Hattingh (lock) scoring a brace and a hat-trick of tries, respectively.
Centre Wessel Coetzee walked off with the official Man of the Match honours, but coach Chean Roux would have been happy with his pack's powerful showing on the night.
Another powerful display worth noting was FNB Tuks' clinical 23-8 win over FNB UJ in Pretoria.
Tuks led 18-0 at half-time, thanks to first-half tries by Hayden Groepes and Franco Mostert, with captain Jono Ross scoring their third try in the second half.
A late try from UJ back JR Esterhuizen accounted for their only points on the night - last year's losing semifinalists having been well and truly outplayed by a side that also managed to beat them twice in last year's Varsity Cup.
Last, and by no means least, the FNB NWU-Pukke opened their account in Round One of the 2012 Varsity Cup, thanks to a hard-fought 26-16 win over the FNB Madibaz in Port Elizabeth.
The visitors led by 26-8 at half-time, but lost the second half 8-0 against their determined opponents.
Pukke coach Hannes Esterhuizen would have been happy with his team's four-try win, especially after the poor start they made in last season's tournament, but their scoreless second half would have been a slight concern for him.
* Meanwhile, the first ever Varsity Young Guns matches took place on Monday, with two away victories signalling the start of this all-new students-only, Under-20 tournament.
In Cape Town, the Baby Shimlas set the scene for their senior side with a 27-20 win over UCT's Under-20s, whilst in Port Elizabeth the NWU-Pukke U20s were simply too strong for the Baby Madibaz - thrashing them by 87-5.
* There were also two Shield matches - in Johannesburg and in Alice, with both home sides emerging victorious.
Wits ran in six tries on their way to a convincing 43-20 victory over UWC, whilst Fort Hare opened their account this season with a determined 36-21 win over UKZN.

 

[spooony]

Some blokes of UCT is part of the Stormers group so not surprising but Shimlas are always a strong outfit and a good victory for them

 

[PaarlBok]

Some blokes of UCT is part of the Stormers group so not surprising but Shimlas are always a strong outfit and a good victory for them

Ikey can be useless the one day and the next day brilliant. Always their problem and I think the WP young lot not making the Stormers squad will play uwc this year. The Varsity Cup sides are contracted.

 

[spooony]

Ikey can be useless the one day and the next day brilliant. Always their problem and I think the WP young lot not making the Stormers squad will play uwc this year. The Varsity Cup sides are contracted.

Yeah. How Maties have fallen since the professional era. I remember these games were like the pre season games in the old days where the provincial players use to play in them as well. Danie Gerber and Dispatch did well back then.