The 2021 edition of the Varsity Cup has been approved to go ahead with plans being finalised over when and where the tournament will be hosted. DYLAN JACK reports.

SARugbymag.co.za understands that following a meeting of the Varsity Cup board and representatives from the participating universities on Monday, plans for the tournament to take place this year have been approved.

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Varsity Cup manager Xhanti-Lomzi Nesi confirmed the news, but added that negotiations over when and where the tournament will be held are still ongoing.

Another important decision made during the meeting was over the tournament’s promotion-relegation structure. There will be no relegation or promotion from the Varsity Shield following this season, as was originally planned. Instead, relegation will take place in 2022 and will be decided on an accrued points total between the next two seasons.

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Therefore this year’s Varsity Cup season will consist of 10 teams, after the Eastern Cape-based Nelson Mandela University were awarded promotion last year. The Madibaz will join the current nine participants in 2021 and 2022.

An official announcement on the tournament will be made as soon as the hosting agreement has been finalised.

Photo: Kevin Sawyer/Asem Engage