The Baby Blues may be 2024 FNB Varsity Cup champions but they will be heading into new territory at this year’s USSA tournament.
The University Sports South Africa event will feature 10-a-side women’s rugby for the first time, which is seen as a significant step on the road to making the traditional 15s game part of future ladies’ tournaments.
In April, Fort Hare confirmed their status as a women’s rugby powerhouse when they won the elite Varsity Cup, stunning Maties in the final to lift the coveted trophy.
While the format might be different at the USSAs, which takes place at Rhodes University in Makhanda from July 1 to 5 this year, Baby Blues coach Ntyatyambo Mkhafu was very aware that they had a target on their back.
Success in the City of Saints would mean that they had pulled off a remarkable Varsity Cup-USSA double in the same year.
“We need to stay calm. We can’t afford to be big-headed,” Mkhafu said.
Fort Hare’s women are used to the Sevens format, which already forms part of the annual USSA calendar, but 10s is a whole new ball game.
The Baby Blues are fortunate, however, to have in Mkhafu a mentor who participated in several 10s tournaments during his playing days.
Asemahle Mseswa will be a key player for the Baby Blues as they seek to pull off the Varsity Cup-USSA double. Photo: Full Stop Communications
As one might have guessed, he described 10s rugby as a mix between 7s and 15s – not as fast as the former but played at a higher pace than the latter.
In 7s, the majority of players traditionally ply their trade in the backline, but for 10s they ideally need a bit of bulk as well.
Each match comprises two halves of 20 minutes each.
According to Mkhafu, the USSA organisation aimed to bring the men’s and women’s games on a par, which meant 15s and 7s would ultimately be the only formats – with 10s being the entry point to this ambition.
Though the structure may be somewhat foreign, Fort Hare’s ladies have already shown that they are more than comfortable with it. Only two weeks ago they won every one of their six matches at a 10s tournament hosted by Walter Sisulu in East London.
“Everyone got to play at that tournament,” Mkhafu said.
“We selected an initial squad of 25, including those who didn’t get a run in the Varsity Cup. There are also five East London girls in our camp and I reckon about three have a chance of making the final squad.”
UFH will take 18 players to Makhanda – 10 starters, five reserves and three on standby.
Mkhafu said it was clear that every member of the squad wanted the chance to play and such was their excitement that they had been organising inter-squad games during training sessions.
A total of 18 teams will be present at the tournament. These have been divided into six groups of three, with the winners of the respective pools progressing to the knockout rounds.
The coach said UFH were determined to pull off the double.
“Like my players, I am quite excited. I think we will represent the university well. We just need to be patient with ourselves and carry out our plans.”
Fort Hare kick off their campaign on July 2, playing UKZN and DUT in their morning and afternoon matches.