The Varsity Cup rugby competition has long been heralded as one of the most important breeding grounds for the massive amount of rugby talent that South Africa produces.

According to Guy Loxton, Marketing Executive of the Varsity Cup “This year’s Currie Cup final contested between Western Province and the Golden Lions was a case in point – with 29 of the 44 players being groomed in the Varsity Cup.”

“The importance of the Varsity Cup cannot be overstated,” he said.

Loxton added “Because of the enormity of rugby talent in South Africa several supremely talented players fall through the cracks in the system after school.

“The Varsity Cup acts as a catch net, and gives these players a platform from which to launch their professional rugby careers. The Varsity Cup also provides these players with an audience – as it attracts massive crowds and the games are televised.

“The Varsity Cup in a manner of speaking revived the grand heritage of South African university rugby which had become stagnant for a brief period.”

The Varsity Cup was founded in 2008 featuring teams from eight universities.

The teams currently contesting the Cup are Stellenbosch University (Maties), University of Pretoria (UP-Tuks), NWU-Potchefstroom (Pukke), University of the Free State (Shimlas), University of Cape Town (Ikeys), University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), University of Johannesburg (UJ) and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (Madibaz).

Loxton continued “The various South African provincial rugby unions have also become aware of the virtues of the Varsity Cup – competitive, uncompromising, attacking and running rugby – and they use this as a tool for developing their junior players. This means that the Varsity Cup acts as rugby factory for South Africa.

“The greatest advertisement for the Varsity Cup during the Currie Cup campaign is the young Lions hooker Armand (Akker) van der Merwe.

“Van der Merwe has been an absolute standout for Jozi’s Pride in the Currie Cup, and he has grabbed the plaudits and the headlines for his hustle and bustle brand of rugby.

“It is no surprise then that Van der Merwe still played for the NWU-Potchefstroom Pukke in the Varsity Cup at the beginning of the year. Young Akker struck form for the men from Potchefstroom during their Varsity Cup season, and he has carried that form straight on to the Currie Cup stage. The Varsity Cup was thus a perfect springboard for the youngster to launch his professional career.

“Akker, however, is not alone in launching his career from the platform of the Varsity Cup.

“As already mentioned, 29 players in Saturday’s Currie Cup groomed their games on the famous playing fields of the Varsity Cup.”

For Western Province, hooker Niel Rautenbach was a standout for UCT during their victorious campaign this year.

“The fact that Rautenbach is able to perform so well for Western Province is a testament to the quality of the Varsity Cup. Fellow UCT alumni in the Province squad include: Dynamic No 8 Nizaam Carr (2011), ace flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis (2011), scrumhalf Nic Groom (2010-2011) and Prop Oliver Kebble (2013). Lions lock forward Martin Muller also donned the UCT jersey from 2008-2011.

“As expected the all-conquering Maties maroon machine provided a fair spread of players for the two squads.”

For Western Province flyhalf Kurt Coleman (2011), skipper and centre Juan de Jongh (2008-2009), scrumhalf Louis Schreuder (2010), centre Michael van der Spuy (2011) and prop Alistair Vermaak (2011-2013), all donned the famed maroon jersey.

Other Varsity Old-boy’s include speedy winger Seabelo Senatla, who ran out for the Central University of Technology in the Varsity Shield and centre Jaco Taute, who donned the orange of UJ.

The Lions called upon ex-Maties fullback Ruan Combrinck (2011) to strengthen their side.

Some of the Lions other Varsity Cup alumni’s included flanker Derick Minnie (UJ – 2008), centre Howard Mnisi (NMMU – 2012-2013), lock Francois Mostert (Tuks – 2010-2012), flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff (Tuks – 2009-2011), loose forward Willie Britz (Shimlas – 2008-2012), hooker Robbie Coetzee (Tuks – 2010 – 2011), prop Ruan Dreyer (UJ – 2011-2012), flanker Jaco Kriel (UJ – 2012), winger Courtnall Skosan (Tuks – 2012-2013), flanker Warwick Tecklenburg (Tuks – 2008-2011), prop Schalk van der Merwe (Shimlas – 2012-2013), utility back Jaco van der Walt (UJ – 2014) and centre Harold Vorster (UJ – 2014).

The amount of Varsity Cup graduates in action in the Currie Cup final was also no surprise.

The tournament has become a stepping stone of such magnitude that one could hardly believe a player could enter the professional ranks without first displaying their wares for their various universities.