The Walter Sisulu University All Blacks were dealt a massive blow to their Varsity Shield hopes on Monday when they received a points deduction for fielding players who did not meet the competition age requirements during their opening two games.
After beating rivals Fort Hare 33-12 in their opening match and the University of Kwa Zulu-Natal 42-21 in their second game, WSU were informed that they were fielding first year players over the age of 22, which is not allowed.
“In the Varsity Cup we have a limit on the amount of first years that you can play in your first team, but in the Shield there is no limit,” explained Varsity Cup manager Xhanti-Lozi Mesi.
“However, in both competitions there is an age limit which states that any first year player must be under the age of 22 years-old to be eligible to play for the first teams in either competition.
“Unfortunately Walter Sisulu, who are a new member to the competition, had players who were over the age of 22 and they had unfortunately misinterpreted the rule.”
WSU were thus docked 10 points, with both of their opening two matches reversed to 32-0 losses.
On Monday the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International’s Disciplinary Committee held a hearing for WSU where they pleaded guilty to the charges.
“We had a discussion with their rugby chairman Mr Bongo Nontshinga. He explained a number of mitigating circumstances that the board of Varsity Cup will take into consideration going forward,” said Mesi.
As a result of the hearing, both Fort Hare and UKZN received bonus point wins, after both had originally not managed a point in either match.
For Fort Hare this is a massive boost as they have risen to second on the log on 20 points, just two points behind the log-leading University of the Western Cape and has also sealed their place in the competition semifinals as they cannot be caught by the teams below them, while they still have one game to play in the pool stages.
WSU, however, fall to fifth after being second on the log and are in real danger of not qualifying for the semis, with two games left to play.
Their next match against Rhodes University in Grahamstown next week is now a huge match for them and they need to try for full points from the match, as their last pool game is against UWC on March 20.
The team responded superbly to the blow on Monday night as they won a nail-biting match against the Cape Peninsula University of Technology at the BCM Stadium.
They were not in a position to comment on the verdict yesterday.
“At the moment we are still consulting on the matter,” said WSU sport administrator Bongo Nontshinga, who added, however, that they will “be releasing a statement on the matter shortly and will be able to comment further at that time”.
Battle for WSU as points docked
After beating rivals Fort Hare 33-12 in their opening match and the University of Kwa Zulu-Natal 42-21 in their second game, WSU were informed that they were fielding first year players over the age of 22, which is not allowed.
“In the Varsity Cup we have a limit on the amount of first years that you can play in your first team, but in the Shield there is no limit,” explained Varsity Cup manager Xhanti-Lozi Mesi.
“However, in both competitions there is an age limit which states that any first year player must be under the age of 22 years-old to be eligible to play for the first teams in either competition.
“Unfortunately Walter Sisulu, who are a new member to the competition, had players who were over the age of 22 and they had unfortunately misinterpreted the rule.”
WSU were thus docked 10 points, with both of their opening two matches reversed to 32-0 losses.
On Monday the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International’s Disciplinary Committee held a hearing for WSU where they pleaded guilty to the charges.
“We had a discussion with their rugby chairman Mr Bongo Nontshinga. He explained a number of mitigating circumstances that the board of Varsity Cup will take into consideration going forward,” said Mesi.
As a result of the hearing, both Fort Hare and UKZN received bonus point wins, after both had originally not managed a point in either match.
For Fort Hare this is a massive boost as they have risen to second on the log on 20 points, just two points behind the log-leading University of the Western Cape and has also sealed their place in the competition semifinals as they cannot be caught by the teams below them, while they still have one game to play in the pool stages.
WSU, however, fall to fifth after being second on the log and are in real danger of not qualifying for the semis, with two games left to play.
Their next match against Rhodes University in Grahamstown next week is now a huge match for them and they need to try for full points from the match, as their last pool game is against UWC on March 20.
The team responded superbly to the blow on Monday night as they won a nail-biting match against the Cape Peninsula University of Technology at the BCM Stadium.
They were not in a position to comment on the verdict yesterday.
“At the moment we are still consulting on the matter,” said WSU sport administrator Bongo Nontshinga, who added, however, that they will “be releasing a statement on the matter shortly and will be able to comment further at that time”.
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