In what was a great advert for junior rugby, Cape Town’s Newlands Rugby Stadium, played host to the 2013 finals of the annual VUKA Rugby Legends Cup Tournament, which was held in front of more than 15,000 spectators. Despite playing in front of so many people the players and management from all the teams involved didn’t disappoint any of those who were in attendance.
The tournament, which is now in its fifth year, showcases some of South Africa’s best up and coming rugby talent. It is organised in partnership with the South African Rugby Legends Association, whose founder Gavin Varejes has a long standing association with grassroots rugby in South Africa.
This year’s Finals were extra special as the games acted as a curtain raiser for the Stormers vs Bulls super rugby match. In addition to this prestigious honour, it was also the first time teams from the U15 age group had competed in the tournament.
In fact, the U15’s final was arguably the highlight of the day. In what was a pulsating encounter, the Atlantis Highlanders battled it out against the Mitchells Plain South Stallions. With great rugby and plenty of determination on show from both sides, the Highlanders’ attacking style of play was the difference between the teams come the final whistle, as they won the game 20 points to 7.
The final of the U19’s was another hotly contested affair as the Highlanders took on the Ravensmead Cobras. This physical encounter had more than its fair share of tough tackling but this didn’t take anything away from the match as a spectacle. After enterprising play from both sides the Cobras ran out 24-12 winners, leaving the Highlanders to rue what might have been as they were condemned to their second VUKA Rugby Legends Final defeat in as many years.
http://www.sarugbylegends.com/content/legends-cup-2013-vuka-finals
