By ROSS ROCHE
A cracking week of Varsity rugby is set to kick off today with the University Sport South Africa (Ussa) rugby week getting underway across East London.
Walter Sisulu University (WSU) have been given the honour of hosting this year’s competition and they will be front and centre when they kick off their campaign in the day’s main match at the Buffalo City Stadium today at 4.30pm.
“It is going to be a massive match,” said Border Rugby Public Relations Officer Akhona Mgijima.
“It is the main game on the first day and we will have the official opening ceremony just before it, so we are expecting a packed house.”
“We are hoping that the fans will be out in force and making their voices heard and we should have most of the teams here watching.”
The WSU A side is playing in the C week of this year’s competition, which will possibly see the winners move up into the Varsity Shield competition next year.
It has been confirmed that three teams will be moving up to play in next year’s Varsity Shield.
However, the criteria set out is that teams will be evaluated on past performances and other factors to determine who will be promoted.
Finishing in the top three of this division will stand teams in very good stead in this regard, and the winner will be heavily tipped to be promoted. This means there will be plenty at stake for the teams taking part in the division.
“We have no other goal than to win the division,” said WSU coach Sipho Metula.
“We want to win the competition so that our platform for the Varsity Shield next year will be set.”
WSU have been hard at work training over the past few weeks and the guys are now raring to go.
A few of their players have also been playing in the Border Super League and having done well in the club competition, they will be quietly confident.
“The guys are looking very sharp and ready for the tournament,” said Metula.
“We have been working long and hard gearing up for this and I believe we are ready.
“We have played very well in the club champs this year, so that has helped us prepare for this week as well.
“We have quite a few young guys coming in here, but with a lot of our club players in the squad, we have some good experience,” stated Metula.
The opening game for WSU will be against Mangosuthu University of Technology, and playing at the home of the Border Bulldogs with a big crowd expected is sure to bring out the best in the team.
“We are playing MUT first up and they have a few guys involved in the Sharks Academy so they should have a strong side,” added Metula.
“Playing them will be a very good competitive game. They have been eager to play us and we are excited to play against them and are looking forward to a good match.”
The opening ceremony will be held at 4pm today, with the main match kicking off at 4.30pm.