What makes the Varsity Cup so popular?
The platform was there because the universities took care of their rugby. You have lots of students and alumni throughout the country. We focused on sportainment. Where there's sport you have to entertain. Our market has to be broader than just the bloke who likes his rugby.
Did you borrow from Monday Night Football in the US?
Francois Pienaar and I went on a fact-finding mission and then we took a delegation from six different universities. We went to watch 12 different sports on our last visit.
What did you learn?
We looked at how they approach sportainment, how they get their fans into stadiums earlier, why their fans stretch from graduates to pre-school kids and how they try to make the day attractive for more than just the sport fan.
What has been the most popular innovation?
The Pink Short Campaign. Obviously its something quite visible and people ask about it and then they contribute to the social investment, which this year campaigns against the abuse of women. Folks are also very positive about singing the national anthem before matches. That engenders loyalty towards the anthem and towards South Africa.
Do the students generally behave themselves?
In four years we've only had one streaker and he actually left his underpants on. I think the kick-off time of 7pm helps because the guys would not have been out much.
Which player has used the Varsity Cup best as a launch pad?
We have produced two Springboks in Coenie Oosthuizen and Juan de Jongh. Tim Whitehead came through nicely, as did James Martin, who plays for England's Sevens team.
Who of the current crop will make it big?
Kallie Visagie of Maties is Springbok captain material and Eben Etsebeth of UCT will take over from Victor Matfield or Bakkies Botha.
How do you make a tournament like this even more popular?
We told ourselves our product was getting a little stale. We are sending another delegation to the US whose sole purpose will be to find out how we can improve in-stadium entertainment. The intensity and quality of play improves each year and we have to colour up the razzmatazz.
You've got UJ, Tukkies, UCT and Shimlas in the semis. Who will win the tournament?
You just can't get away from the fact that UJ beat Maties and UCT in Cape Town and got a bonus point in the process. No other team in four years of the Varsity Cup has achieved that. I think it is UJ's tournament to lose.
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