Wikipedia - Varsity Rugby

Varsity Cup is the collective name for four South African rugby union competitions involving the top rugby playing universities in the country. It was launched in 2008, with eight teams participating in the Varsity Cup competition and each university's internal champions competing in the Koshuis Rugby Championships (now known as Res Rugby). In 2011, a second tier competition called the Varsity Shield was added, increasing the number of participating universities to thirteen. A Young Guns tournament for the Under-20 side of the Varsity Cup teams was launched in 2012. A further expansion for the 2017 season saw three additional universities added to the Varsity Shield, totaling sixteen teams.

The Varsity Cup was dominated by Maties during the competition's formative years, with the team winning the first three tournaments in a row. Four other sides – NWU Eagles (NWU Pukke), UCT Ikey Tigers, UFS Shimlas and UP Tuks – have also won the tournament subsequently. Those five sides, along with UJ, participated in the Varsity Cup in each season since its conception, while CUT Ixias, NMU Madibaz, TUT Vikings, UWC and Wits participated in the Varsity Cup on occasion, but also played in the second-tier Varsity Shield competition in certain seasons. CPUT, Rhodes, UFH Blues, UKZN Impi and WSU All Blacks have never been able to win promotion to the Varsity Cup, spending all their time in the Varsity Shield tournament.

Currently the only team to have won the Varsity Cup and have been demoted to the Varsity Shield are UP Tuks, following a winless 2023 Varsity Cup campaign.

History

Maties won the first three Varsity Cup competitions

The Varsity Cup tournament was founded in 2008, with former Springbok World Cup winning captain, Francois Piennaar playing a key role in the establishment. It featured the rugby teams of eight universities, with Maties, NMU Madibaz, NWU Pukke, TUT Vikings, UCT Ikey Tigers, UFS Shimlas, UJ and UP Tuks being the founding members of the competition. At the same time, the Koshuis Rugby Championships (now known as Res Rugby) was also launched; this competition featured the university residence (koshuis) teams that won the internal league for each of the Varsity Cup universities.

In 2011, a second tier was added below the Varsity Cup tournament, called the Varsity Shield, which featured the rugby teams of a further five universities. CUT Ixias, UFH Blues, UKZN Impi, UWC and Wits were the expansion teams that were added to the Varsity Shield for its first season.

In 2012, an Under-20 competition was also added, called the Young Guns. Each season, the same eight teams that took part in the Varsity Cup could enter their youth teams in this Young Guns competition. The name "Varsity Rugby" was also coined in 2012 to describe the four competitions collectively.

From the inception of the tournament in 2008 until 2017, the title sponsors of the tournaments were First National Bank and Steinhoff International. For this reason, the competitions were officially known as the "FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International", "FNB Varsity Shield presented by Steinhoff International", "FNB Young Guns presented by Steinhoff International" and the "Steinhoff Koshuis Rugby Championships". In 2018, Steinhoff withdrew as a sponsor, with FNB retaining the sponsorship rights.

Varsity盃是一個橄欖球聯賽,由大學生參與的比賽。這個比賽是在傳統的中文大學之間舉行,吸引了來自不同學校的優秀球員參與。這個比賽的目的是提供一個平台,讓大學生們展示他們的橄欖球技巧和競爭力。

Varsity盃比賽是一個激烈而受歡迎的運動盛事,吸引了大量的觀眾和球迷。比賽期間,球場上充滿了緊張和激情,球員們通過他們的技巧、速度和力量來爭奪勝利。這個比賽不僅僅是一場運動競賽,也是一個展示團隊合作和領導能力的機會。

Varsity盃比賽的規則和標準符合國際橄欖球聯盟的要求,確保比賽的公平性和公正性。比賽分為多個階段,包括小組賽和淘汰賽,最終決出冠軍隊伍。這個比賽也為球員們提供了一個與其他學校球隊交流和學習的機會,促進了橄欖球運動在大學間的發展。

Varsity盃比賽不僅僅是一個運動盛事,也是一個聚集大學生們的社交和文化交流的場合。觀眾可以在比賽中感受到激烈的競爭氛圍,同時也能欣賞到球員們的技巧和才華。這個比賽也為大學生們提供了一個展示他們學校自豪感和團隊精神的機會。

總之,Varsity盃是一個受歡迎的橄欖球聯賽,為大學生們提供了一個展示他們技巧和競爭力的平台。這個比賽不僅僅是一場運動競賽,也是一個促進大學間交流和文化交流的場合。無論是球員還是觀眾,都能在Varsity盃中感受到激烈的競爭和橄欖球運動的魅力。