For the last decade, Varsity Sports has cemented itself in the hearts and minds of South African university students as they battle it out on the sports field. Lives have been changed through career-defining opportunities. And the fans have been along for the ride!
To celebrate the milestone of 10 years of university sporting action, a Varsity Sports Festival will take place at the University of Pretoria from 3 to 8 October.
Cricket, hockey and 7s rugby teams from the top universities around the country will converge on Tuks to compete for top honours. Fans will get the opportunity to enjoy a multitude of sporting codes and entertainment in one place.
“We are really excited to announce this festival of sport to commemorate 10 years of high-performance sport across universities in South Africa. We urge fans to come out and support their favourite cricket, hockey and 7s rugby teams by dressing up and enjoying a week of action-packed sport and entertainment. The goal is to make the festival a yearly event across the country” says Lisa Roux, Head of Varsity Sports.
Here’s what you need to know about the 2022 Festival of Sport.
Cricket: 3, 4 and 5 October
Pool A: SU, UWC, UJ, CUT
Pool B: NWU, Tuks, Madibaz, UCT
Defending Champions: Tuks (2019)
Notable Varsity cricket players who have gone on to represent South Africa: Aiden Markram (Tuks); Lungi Ngidi (Tuks), Anrich Nortje (Madibaz), Janneman Malan (NWU), Heinrich Klaasen (Tuks)
All the games taking place on the Tuks Cricket Oval will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Hockey: 5-6 October
Men: Tuks, NWU, SU, Kovsies
Women: Wits, SU, Tuks, UJ
Defending Champions: Men – Tuks (2018)
Women – NWU (2019)
Notable Varsity hockey players who have gone on to represent South Africa:
Men – Keenan Horne (SU), Daniel Bell (SU), Gareth Heyns (UJ), Ignatius Malgraff (Madibaz), Tevin Kok (Tuks)
Women – Bernadette Coston (UJ),Izelle Verster (Tuks), Quanita Bobbs (SU), Nicole la Fleur (SU), Celia Evans (NWU)
All games will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
7s Rugby: 7-8 October
Men – Group A: Tuks, UWC, NWU, NWU
Men – Group B: UJ, Maties, Kovsies, Wits
Women – Group A: Tuks, Limpopo, Walter Sisulu, TUT
Women – Group B: Fort Hare, UJ, NMU, Maties
Defending Champions: Men – UJ (2019)
Women – Tuks (2019)
Notable Varsity 7s players who have represented the Blitzboks: Kyle Brown (UCT), Timothy Agaba (Madibaz), Impi Visser (Tuks), Ronald Brown (UJ), Shaun Williams (UJ), Kurt-Lee Arendse (UWC)
All games will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Sponsors
The 2022 Festival of Sport is proudly sponsored by Suzuki and FNB.
