For the last ten years, Varsity Sports has provided life-changing opportunities for South Africa’s top-performing university students and teams across several sporting codes. Bringing the individual campuses and supporters along for the ride has been part of the excitement.
Varsity Sports was the brainchild of World Cup-winning Springbok captain Francois Pienaar and as the CEO of Advent Sport Entertainment and Media (ASEM), the driving force behind Varsity Sports, Pienaar believes the competition provides a crucial breeding ground for developing young sporting talent in South Africa.
“It has been proven that elevating the level of exposure of Varsity Sports holds huge benefits for South African sport in general. Many national and international stars will emerge from the Varsity Sports initiative.”
Following the huge success of the Varsity Cup rugby tournament that kicked off in 2008, Varsity Sports was launched in 2012 with 7s rugby and beach volleyball tournaments in Plettenberg Bay and Margate. Athletics, hockey, basketball, football, netball, cricket and mountain biking followed in 2013 and beyond.
Looking back, the University of Pretoria has reigned supreme, collecting 19 Varsity Sports titles since 2013. These include 5 for athletics, 4 for cricket, 3 for football, 2 for hockey, 2 for netball, 2 for 7s rugby and 1 for beach volleyball. The Tshwane University of Technology and the University of Johannesburg are joint second with 8 titles each, followed by Stellenbosch University and North West University (7) and the University of the Western Cape and University of the Free State (4).
Since 2012, Varsity Sports has provided the platform for student sportsmen and sportswomen to achieve the highest honour in their chosen sporting code – representing South Africa on the international stage.
We take a look at some of the most outstanding athletes Varsity Sports has produced throughout the years.
Cricket
Since the start of Varsity Cricket in 2015, eight players have represented the Proteas at international level.
This list includes Lungi Ngidi, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaassen (Tuks); Janneman Malan, Wihan Lubbe, Bjorn Fortuin (NWU); Anrich Nortje (NMU); and Zubayr Hamza (UWC).
Hockey
Varsity Hockey has produced numerous international stars over the years.
These include current national captain Bernadette Coston (UJ), 150+ cap stalwart Quanita Bobbs (Maties) and SA Hockey Player of the Year 2016 Celia Seerane (NWU) on the women’s side. On the men’s side current national vice-captain Keenan Horne (Maties) is joined by Olympic duo Daniel Bell (Maties) and Tevin Kok (Tuks) as notable names.
7s rugby
The Varsity 7s tournament has proven to be a great stepping stone to bigger and brighter things for aspiring rugby players.
Several notable Varsity 7s players have climbed their way to the pinnacle and represented the Blitzboks. Among them is Kyle Brown (UCT), Timothy Agaba (Madibaz), Impi Visser (Tuks), Ronald Brown (UJ), Shaun Williams (UJ) and Kurt-Lee Arendse (UWC).
Netball
Varsity Netball has delivered exciting tussles between the top 8 university teams since 2013, when Kovsies beat NWU 44-40 in the first final.
Since then, Lefebré Rademan, Khanyisa Chawane, Boitumelo Makhalo, Lauren-Lee Christians and Danelle Lochner went from wearing the Kovsies colours to representing South Africa’s national netball team.
They however haven’t been the only ones:
Tuks: Lenize Potgieter, Ine-Marí, Izette Griesel, Tshina Mdau, Shadine van der Merwe, Renske Stolz, Jeanie Steyn, Romé Dreyer,
Maties: Nicholé Taljaard, Nicola Smith, Juline van der Merwe
NWU: Elmeré van der Berg, Monique Reyneke, Kifiloe ‘Fifi’ Tsotetsi, Elsunet du Plessis, Sigi Burger
Madibaz: Zanele Vimbela
Athletics
A handful of South African track and field stars earned their stripes by participating in Varsity Athletics. Going from tracks across the country to the international stage and sport’s biggest accolade – representing your country at the Olympic Games.
Wayde van Niekerk and Caster Semenya deserve special mention, walking away with gold medals at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
Take a look at these names and remember their athletics prowess at the Olympic Games:
Akani Simbine (Tuks) – 2016 Rio de Janeiro
Wayde van Niekerk (Kovsies) – 2016 Rio de Janeiro (400m gold)
Justine Palframan (Maties) – 2016 Rio de Janeiro
Lynique Beneke (Tuks/UJ) – 2016 Rio de Janeiro
Le Roux Hamman (Tuks) – 2016 Rio de Janeiro
Elroy Gelant (NWU) – 2016 Rio de Janeiro
Rynardt van Rensburg (Kovsies) – 2016 Rio de Janeiro
André Olivier( NWU) – 2012 London
Henricho Bruintjies (Tuks) – 2016 Rio de Janeiro
Ruswahl Samaai (UJ) – 2016 Rio de Janeiro
Caster Semenya (NWU) – 2012 London (800m gold) / 2016 Rio de Janeiro (800m gold)
Clarence Munyai (Tuks) – 2016 Rio de Janeiro
Ts’epang Sello (Kovsies) – 2016 Rio de Janeiro (Lesotho)
Football:
Varsity Diski was added to the roster of Varsity Sports in 2013 and it didn’t take long for one of its stars to make the leap to the national team. NWU’s Thabo Mnyamane got the call up to Bafanan Bafana and scored on debut.
In women’s football a remarkable 12 players who participated in previous instalments of Varsity Football were crowned Champions Of Africa this year with Banyana Banyana. Regirl Ngobeni, Bongeka Gamede, Amogelang Motau, Sibulele Holweni, Noxolo Cesane, Nomvula Kgoale, Hildah Magaia, Noko Matlou, Refiloe Jane, Kholosa Biyana, Thalea Smidt and Thembi Kgatlana all came the varsity ranks and went on to represent South Africa.
To celebrate the milestone of 10 years of university sporting action, a Festival of Varsity Sports 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.
Featured games will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
The 2022 Festival of Varsity Sport is proudly sponsored by Suzuki and FNB.
