The FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International will expand its

involvement in South African university rugby, with the creation of a new second tier competition from 2011 onwards.

As a result, five ‘B-Section’ universities will compete against each other in a double round competition starting next year, called the Varsity Shield – a decision that was officially ratified at the special general meeting of the Varsity Cup (Pty) Ltd in Sandton on Friday.

The five universities that will take part in the Varsity Shield are the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), the Central University of Technology (CUT – Free State), the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and Fort Hare University.

Fort Hare and UZKN have been pushing hard for Varsity Cup inclusion since 2008, while the likes of Wits, CUT and UWC will all help add depth to an already competitive tournament, which will now have 13 teams – eight in the ‘A-Section’ and five in the newly-created ‘B-Section’.

Those five teams were selected by SARU, USSA and the Varsity Cup and they will receive a direct financial sponsorship from FNB.

The kit and logistics for the Varsity Shield sides will be financed by the Varsity Cup, with all four major tournament sponsors, FNB, Steinhoff International, Carling Black Label and Olmeca Tequila, extending their sponsorship to the Varsity Shield.

Jurie Roux, chairman of the Varsity Cup Board, said Friday it was inevitable for the Varsity Cup to take its involvement to more institutions.

“Having now got 13 universities on board, the Varsity Cup will make an even more significant contribution to SA Rugby from 2011 onwards,” he said.

The Varsity Shield will run at the same time as the Cup tournament, which starts in February next year.

A promotion/relegation match will take place afterwards between the bottom team in the ‘A-Section’ and the top Varsity Shield side – to decide the line-up for the next season.

From 2012 onwards, the winner of the Varsity Shield will automatically progress to the Varsity Cup without a promotion/relegation match.

Mervin Green, SA Rugby’s youth and club rugby manager, said it was a fantastic opportunity for some of the true rugby supporting universities to show what they can do once they have the necessary support – in terms of finance and a great competition like the Varsity Shield which will give them the much-needed exposure.