The 2008 Varsity Cup was contested from 18 February to 7 April 2008. The tournament (also known as the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International for sponsorship reasons) was the first season of the Varsity Cup, an annual inter-university rugby union competition featuring eight South African universities.
The tournament was won by , who beat 16–10 in the final played on 7 April 2008.
Competition
There were eight participating universities in the 2008 Varsity Cup. These teams played each other once over the course of the season. Most matches were played at the venue for either team, but the Round Five, Six and Seven matches were played at Outeniqua Park in George over the Easter weekend.
Teams received four points for a win and two points for a draw. Bonus points were awarded to teams that scored four or more tries in a game, as well as to teams that lost a match by seven points or less. Teams were ranked by log points, then points difference (points scored less points conceded).
The top four teams qualified for the title play-offs. In the semi-finals, the team that finished first had home advantage against the team that finished fourth, while the team that finished second had home advantage against the team that finished third. The winners of these semi-finals played each other in the final, at the home venue of the higher-placed team.
Teams
+ 2008 Varsity Cup teams Team University Stadium Stellenbosch University Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University NMMU Stadium, Port Elizabeth North-West University Fanie du Toit Sport Ground, Potchefstroom Tshwane University of Technology TUT Stadium, Pretoria University of Cape Town UCT Rugby Fields, Cape Town University of the Free State Grey College, Bloemfontein University of Pretoria LC de Villiers Stadium, Pretoria University of Johannesburg UJ Stadium, Johannesburg
Standings
2008 Varsity Cup standings Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts 1 7 6 0 1 260 149 +111 37 17 6 1 31 2 7 4 1 2 231 169 +62 31 20 5 2 25 3 7 4 1 2 222 191 +31 33 22 6 0 24 4 7 5 0 2 209 143 +66 24 18 2 1 23 5 7 3 0 4 208 225 −17 23 31 3 1 16 6 7 3 0 4 178 173 +5 21 20 3 0 15 7 7 2 0 5 122 235 −113 11 32 1 0 9 8 7 0 0 7 134 279 −145 17 37 2 3 5 * Legend: Pos = Position, Pld = Played, W = Won, D = Drawn, L = Lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TF = Tries for, TA = Tries against, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Table points, , and qualified to the semi-finals.Points breakdown:*4 points for a win*2 points for a draw*1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less*1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match
Pool stages
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 1 (rescheduled)
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Play-offs
Semi-finals
Final
FB 15Joe Pietersen RW 14Hendrik StoffbergOC 13Juan de JonghIC 12Sarel Potgieter LW 11Morne JoosteFH 10Ricardo Croy SH 9 Wilhelm Koch N8 8 Bennie Booysen (c)OF 7 Jonathan Adendorf BF 6 Zandre JordaanRL 5 Jaco Nepgen LL 4 Erich LaubscherTP 3 Jacobie Adriaanse HK 2 Lisle Clark LP 1 Johan RoetsReplacements: 16Matthew Dobson 17Andrew Crausaz 18De Kock Steenkamp 19Albert Fullard 20Coenie van Wyk 21Jean Stemmet 22Therlow Pietersen Coach:Chean Roux FB 15Rob HopwoodRW 14Marcello SampsonOC 13James MartinIC 12Pieter Engelbrecht LW 11Mat TurnerFH 10Matt Rosslee SH 9 Danie van der Merwe N8 8 JJ Gagiano (c)OF 7 Mzothando SimaniBF 6 Enoch PanyaRL 5 Martin MullerLL 4 Michael LedwidgeTP 3 Dylan Rogers HK 2 John Peter Koster LP 1 Herbie Mayosi Replacements: 16Mark Goosen 17Wesley Chetty 18Dane Galley 19Kyle Brown 20Kyle Wickins 21Tim Whitehead 22Peter Haw 23Hein van der Merwe Coach: John Dobson Player of the Match: Not documented
Assistant referees: François Veldsman & Dilbert November (South Africa), Neville Heilbron (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Statistics All point scorers No Player Team T C P DG Pts 1 Ryno Luus 2 15 18 0 94 2 Matthew Rosslee 2 27 6 0 82 3 Jean Tiedt 3 11 13 0 76 4 Braam Pretorius 1 6 16 0 65 5 Sarel Potgieter 4 10 5 0 55 6 Mathew Turner 9 2 1 0 52 7 Corné Meyer 1 4 11 0 46 8 Henoe Stoffberg 1 6 9 0 44 9 Marcello Sampson 8 0 0 0 40 10 Chandré Boshoff 0 12 5 0 39 * Legend: T = Tries, C = Conversions, P = Penalties, DG = Drop Goals, Pts = Points.
See also Varsity Cup
References
External links