Back to school in Varsity Cup
MADIBAZ coach David Maidza and skipper Roy Godfrey will have to acquaint themselves with some innovative new rules before they kick off their FNB Varsity Cup rugby campaign against Maties on February 3 at the NMMU Stadium.
At the launch of the competition, organisers said a new free-catch rule would come into play, adding to the free-flowing style of rugby played by the varsity teams in recent years.
A player can now mark the ball – when catching a kick on the full – anywhere on the field and not just in his own 22.
The referees, however, will play advantage with any catch from the air and will be able to bring the catcher's team back if they do not get advantage and award a free kick to them.
The new season promises to be another jam-packed one, with the Varsity Shield tournament getting under way on Monday next week and the Varsity Cup starting a week later (on February 3).
Out of a total of 84 fixtures taking place through the Varsity Cup, the Varsity Shield, Varsity Young Guns and the Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships, 23 Varsity Rugby matches will be televised this year, with the Varsity Rugby Grand Finals day on April 7.
This year sees the return of promotion/relegation – between the Cup and Shield – while the Varsity Cup tournament organisers have again opened the competition to experimentation with specially designed jerseys for props (in the Varsity Cup and Shield) and the employment of two referees (in the Varsity Cup only).
Speaking about the special front-row jerseys, Varsity Cup chief executive Duitser Bosman said: "We pride ourselves on innovation across the Varsity Rugby competitions and this is another step in the right direction to make the game enjoyable to watch and safer for the players."
On the advent of double referees, Saru chief executive Jurie Roux said: "We're very excited about the opportunity to trial the two-referees system, which has been used in the Stellenbosch Koshuis League for some time.
"The IRB has been very supportive and we're excited to see if two referees can help make for a better product for everyone."
UP-Tuks will hope to defend their Cup title, having won it in 2012 and last year, but there will be stiff competition.
Tuks have a new head coach in former Blue Bulls and Griquas coach Pote Human, with five new coaches set to take the reins in the Varsity Cup this year.
Only Andy Royle (Wits), Michael Horak (UFS-Shimlas) and Chris Rossouw (Maties) remain from last year.
