The 2012 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International season was kicked-off in fine style at the Blair Atholl Golf Estate on Monday - with promises of even bigger and better things to come this year.
Whilst one would ordinarily scoff at pre-tournament (and PR) talk of things being "bigger and better", there are now four tournaments under the Varsity Cup banner - meaning 29 teams competing for four trophies and a total of 82 fixtures from January 30 until the finals day on April 9.
Varsity Rugby - as the collective property is known - is serious about growth and deadly serious about being "bigger and better".
The Varsity Cup and Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships were joined by the successful Varsity Shield tournament last year and this year, in 2012, the Varsity Young Guns - a students-only Under-20 tournament - is expected to add to the fun, excitement and development of the game.
But Varsity Rugby is more than just about what happens on the field, with a new points-scoring system already setting the tongues wagging, and plenty matchday entertainment in store for those fans and followers set to attend matches in 2012.
All this, and more, was explained in detail at Monday's launch in Johannesburg, as SuperSport's Xola Ntshinga - acting as MC on the day - kept the media, special guests and all the university representatives entertained and put the likes of Francois Pienaar and Jurie Roux through their paces up front.
Pienaar is the former Varsity Cup Board Chairman and he currently serves as sponsor's FNB's representative on the board. Roux took over the chairmanship from Pienaar in 2010 and continues in that role, despite being kept extremely busy these days as SARU's Chief Executive Officer.
"It's always a pleasure to be up here talking about the start of a new Varsity Rugby season - a tournament which has grown from strength-to-strength since 2008," commented the 1995 World Cup-winning Springbok captain.
"Who would've guessed that this tournament would've grown so much since that inaugural year and captured the imagination of the public in the process? That, in itself, is such an achievement."
Roux added: "The Varsity Cup will always be close to my heart. But when you look at the quality of people that we're able to get into one room on a day like this, I think you can understand why."
The 2012 Varsity Rugby season will get underway on January 30 with the start of the Varsity Shield, before the Cup kicks-off the following week on February 6 - along with the Young Guns competition - and, eventually, followed by the Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships on February 13.
2012 Varsitybeker: Groter ... en beter
Die FNB Varsitybeker-kompetisie aangebied deur Steinhoff International is Maandag op luisteryke wyse by die Blair Atholl Gholflandgoed bekend gestel - met die belofte dat dit selfs nog groter en beter gaan wees as in die verlede.
Mense luister gewoonlik halfhartig na voorseisoene bemarkingspraatjies wat beloof dat komende toernooie 'groter en beter' gaan wees as tevore, maar daar is immers vier kompetisies wat vanjaar onder die vaandel van die Varsitybeker-kompetisie gespeel gaan word. Dit beteken dat 29 spanne van 30 Januarie af tot 9 April, as die eindstryde gespeel word, in 82 wedstryde vir vier trofeë sake gaan uitspook.
Varsitybekerugby - soos die oorhoofse kompetisie bekend staan - is ernstig oor die groei en ontwikkeling van die spel én die kompetisie en is vasbeslote om dit 'groter en beter' te maak.
Die Varsitybeker en Steinhoff Koshuisrugby-kampioenskap is verlede seisoen suksesvol met die Varsityskild-toernooi uitgebrei en vanjaar, in 2012, kry die kompetisie nóg lyf as die Varsity Jong Turke-kompetisie vir o.20-spanne bykom. Dié kompetisie, waarin slegs ingeskrewe studente mag speel, gaan na verwagting verdere opwinding en drama toevoeg en beslis bydra om die toernooi, spel en spelers verder te ontwikkel.
Die Varsitybeker is egter lankal nie meer net wat tussen die vier lyne gebeur nie en vanjaar gaan 'n nuwe puntestelsel mense aan die gesels kry, om van die aksie en vermaak wat toeskouers gaan ervaar ván die veld nie eens te praat nie.
Al dit en meer is breedvoerig by die bekendstelling Maandag net buite Johannesburg deur SuperSport se Xola Ntshinga, wat as seremoniemeester opgetree het, bespreek. Hy het die nie net die gehoor- bestaande uit media, spesiale gaste en die onderskeie universiteitsverteenwoordigers - vermaak en op hoogte van sake gehou nie, maar ook Francois Pienaar en Jurie Roux kans gegee om hul stemme te laat hoor.
Pienaar is 'n voormalige Varsitybeker-voorsitter en dien tans as FNB se verteenwoordiger op die huidige bestuur. Roux het die voorsitterskap in 2010 by Pienaar oorgeneem en geniet steeds die rol, ondanks sy vermoeiende en besige pos as SARU se uitvoerende hoof.
"Dit is altyd lekker om hier te staan en praat oor die begin van 'n nuwe Varsitybeker-seisoen, want sedert die begin daarvan in 2008 het dit elke keer nog verder gegroei," het Pienaar, kaptein van die Springbokke se seeviërende Wêreldbekerspan van 1995, gesê.
"Wie sou ooit kon dink dat dié toernooi soveel kon groei sederdien en terselfdertyd daarin kon slaag om die publiek se verbeelding so skouspelagtig aan te gryp? Dit op sigself is 'n reuse prestasie."
Roux erken dié kompetisie lê hom na aan die hart.
"Dit sal altyd 'n spesiale toernooi vir my bly en as jy kyk na die gehalte van mense wat ons hier in een vertrek op 'n dag soos dié byeen kon kry, sal julle verstaan hoekom."
Die Varsitybeker van 2012 skop op 30 Januarie met die Varsityskild af, terwyl die Varsitybeker- en die Jong Turke-kompetisie op 6 Februarie sy eerste aksie beleef. Die Steinhoff Koshuisrugby-kampioenskap begin op 13 Februarie.