Summary
Varsity Sports SA, is a group university sports leagues in South Africa. Its members all belong to the University Sport Company, and may each enter only one campus per competition, though they may enter different campuses for different competitions.
 | |
| Conference | USSA |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2012 |
| Commissioner | Francois Pienaar (since 2012) |
| Sports fielded |
|
| No. of teams | 24 |
| Headquarters | Cape Town, Western Cape |
| Region | South Africa |
| Official website | varsitysportssa |
History edit
The Varsity Cup tournament was founded in 2008, featuring the rugby teams of eight universities. Varsity Sports was created as an offshoot in 2012. In the first season rugby sevens and beach volleyball were played. In 2013, athletics, field hockey, association football and netball were added.[1] In 2016, mountain biking was added.
Member universities edit
Sports edit
Varsity Sports currently runs competitions in six sporting codes. These are athletics, beach volleyball, association football, field hockey, netball and rugby sevens. Athletics and football have events for both men and women. Rugby, has only a men's event. Volleyball, netball and hockey have only female events, though men's hockey will be added in 2014.
List of Varsity sports edit
| Sport | Type | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Athletics | Core | 2013–2019 |
| Basketball | Core | 2018–2021 |
| Beach Volleyball | Core | 2012, 2013, 2015-2017 |
| Cricket | Core | 2015–2019, 2022 |
| Football (Men) | Core | 2013–present |
| Football (Women) | Core | 2013–present |
| Hockey | Core | 2013–2019, 2022 |
| Netball | Core | 2013–present |
| Rugby sevens | Core | 2013–2019, 2022 |
| Mountain biking | 2016-2017, 2019 |
Season summaries edit
2012 edit
In 2012, the only events held were for rugby sevens and beach volleyball.
Ten teams took part in sevens rugby. They were, UFS, NMMU, UCT, TUT, UP-Tuks, UWC, NWU-Pukke, Limpopo, Maties and UJ.[3] The University of Stellenbosh won the first rugby sevens title. They won both of the tournaments, held in Plettenberg Bay and Margate.[4]
Seven teams took part in beach volleyball. They were UWC, UJ, UP-Tuks, UCT, Limpopo, NMMU and TUT. The University of the Western Cape won the tournament. The Plettenbrg Bay event was called off before the final, due to bad weather.[5]
2013 edit
In 2013, the season began with a three meeting athletics series. The overall winner was UP-Tuks.[6]
That was followed by a women's field hockey tournament, which was won by Maties.[7]
The 2013 Varsity Football tournament was won by UP-Tuks.[8]
The 2013 Women's Varsity Football tournament was won by UJ Ladies.[9]
The netball competition was won by UFS-Kovsies.[10]
The 2013 rugby sevens and volleyball tournaments were won by defending champions Maties and UWC respectively.[11]
2014 edit
The 2014 saw a four meeting athletics series, and a men's hockey tournament replacing the women's one from 2013.[citation needed]
The 2014 Varsity Football season will begin in July, and will be followed by netball, rugby sevens and beach volleyball.[needs update][citation needed]
2019 edit
The inaugural Varsity Women’s Rugby 7s, [12] Basketball.[13]
2020 edit
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[14] football could restart.[15]
2021 edit
This tournaments, football and netball, will take place in a secure Covid-19 bio-bubble called the Varsity Sport Village, matches will be played at University of Pretoria[16] and Stellenbosch University.[17]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "More sporting codes to boost varsity sports". SABC. 12 April 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
- ^ "Management Committee". Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
- ^ "Big guns fire on Day One". Varsity Sports SA. 23 November 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
- ^ "Last-gasp Maties reign in Plett". Varsity Sports SA. 24 November 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
- ^ "Double or quits in Margate". Varsity Sports SA. 24 November 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
- ^ "Tuks show class in relays". Varsity Sports SA. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
- ^ "Maties claim the spoils". Varsity Sports SA. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
- ^ "Tuks too strong for Madibaz". Varsity Sports SA. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
- ^ "UJ women score Varsity Football crown". YourSport. 19 September 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ "Kovsies stun Pukke in final". Varsity Sports SA. 28 October 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
- ^ "Sizzling finish in Camps Bay". Varsity Sports SA. 1 December 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
- ^ "UP-Tuks claim inaugural Varsity Women's 7s title". varsitysportssa.com. 5 October 2019.
- ^ "Debut Varsity Sports win for VUT – Vaal University of Technology".
- ^ "Varsity Hockey 2020 postponed". Varsity Sports. p. 17 March 2020.
- ^ "SAFA weigh in on when football could restart". Varsity Sport. 30 April 2020.
- ^ "Varsity Football is back and promises to bring the heat!". Varsity Sports. 2 September 2021.
- ^ "Varsity Netball to be played in bio-bubble at Stellenbosch University". Super Sport. 6 August 2021.