The Border rugby fraternity agrees that it would be catastrophic for rural rugby, development and transformation if either the University of Fort Hare or Walter Sisulu University were relegated in the Varsity Shield this week, bearing in mind the province already lost Rhodes University about two years ago.
The two Eastern Cape universities are at the bottom of the second-tier Varsity competition and are desperate to avoid the drop in their final pool games on Thursday against Varsity College and the University of KwaZulu-Natal who themselves face a possible axing.
UKZN, Fort Hare Blues and WSU All Blacks are all in the relegation zone on seven points.
If they lose by huge margins, it is curtains. WSU have to beat Varsity College and Fort Hare have to beat UKZN for survival.
Former WSU All Blacks coach Akhona Mgijima said it would be calamitous if the region were to lose one of the universities.
Fort Hare won the Varsity Shield in 2022 under the leadership of Lumumba Currie, while WSU were finalists in 2018 and 2021.
“Imagine if this Eastern Cape derby is no more, just imagine, it would be catastrophic,” Mgijima said.
“You need to understand and take note that SuperSport has never once not broadcast the fixture between WSU and UFH since WSU joined the Varsity Shied in 2017.
“How many players from these three universities have increased the transformation outlook of rugby in SA?
“I still maintain it would be an injustice to relegate these two universities, if you apply logic and common sense. It would never make any sense.
“WSU and UFH single-handedly provide opportunities to boys from quintile 1 to 3 schools and no other university is doing that.
“These two universities have players that have never played Craven, Grant Khoma or even Academy week. No other institution is doing that.”
He said he shed a a tear after realising that the two universities were fighting for survival.
“I asked myself what would Sipho Metula and Elliot Fana do or say on the matter? Would they have allowed this situation and kept quiet?
“Or would they have challenged the status quo, I don’t have the answers,” Mgijima said.
The late Metula and Fana were considered the Godfathers of rugby in the two institutions and took them to great heights.
Mgijima said the custodians of the Shield competition, Varsity Sport board and officials needed to reconsider their stance as far as relegation was concerned.
“The issue of age-banding is killing our black institutions.”
He said a solution or alternative to relegation might be to create a three-tier competition of a similar nature to ensure these universities did not disappear should they be relegated.
“A kid from a disadvantaged school or family only matures physically and psychologically at age 23 because of family dynamics.
“At age 24-25, that’s when you start to see his full potential.
“I would make a practical example of players such as Mihlali Moss at the Bulls, Athi Khethani at Griquas and Xolani Jacobs at the Griffons,” Mgijima said.
“The rise of private colleges may create a barrier for transformation and encourage those with financial muscle to prosper.
“WSU and UFH may never be able to compete with Varsity College or Stadio College with financial resources and that will result in isolation or elimination of the disadvantaged universities.
“Generally, the black or coloured institutions do not receive sponsorships and rely on the Varsity Sport Funding with top up from the institution and they may never be able to compete with privately funded institutions.”
Daily Dispatch
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