Koshuis semifinal fixtures confirmed

The four semifinalists for the 2009 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships have been confirmed and so, too, the dates and kick-off times for these thrilling fixtures which will decide the best koshuis - or residence - team in the country.

The top eight universities from the Varsity Cup all contributed one team to the Koshuisrugby Championships - the second staging of this exciting competition for all aspiring koshuis players from Maties, UCT, Pukke, Tuks, UJ, Shimlas, NMMU and TUT.

The eight teams were split into two groups of four teams; Dromedaris (UJ), Maroela (Tuks), Over de Voor (NWU-Pukke) and Monitor (TUT) making up the Northern section and Armentum (Shimlas), Barbarians (NMMU), Steinhoff Majuba (Maties) and the Steinhoff Cobras (UCT) forming the Southern section.

Huis Armentum (Shimlas) - the in-form side and unbeaten in the South - will face Maroela in the first semifinal, followed by Dromedaris - the unbeaten koshuis side from the North - hosting the Barbarians from Port Elizabeth in the second semifinal.

The Armentum v Maroela clash will take place at Bloemfontein's Shimla Park on Monday, March 23 - kick-off 7pm. The second semi, between 'Drom' and the 'Baa-baas', will kick-off on the same day at 7.30pm on Monday. That match will take place at UJ's West Sports Grounds.

Armentum and Dromedaris are many people's favourites to progress to the 2009 Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships Final, which, of course, will be played as a curtain-raiser to the 2009 Varsity Cup Final on Monday, March 30.

"Koshuis rugby is the portrait of commitment and passion in rugby in this country," said Varsity Cup Chairman Francois Pienaar.

"Many players have walked this very path before taking a step up and playing 'bigger' rugby, so this tournament has a very real place in our rugby, especially after the success of the koshuis league in 2008 and, of course, the Varsity Cup."

Steinhoff Koshuisrugby semifinal fixtures:

Huis Armentum (Shimlas) v Maroela (Tuks)
Monday, March 23 - 7pm
Shimla Park, Bloemfontein

Dromedaris (UJ) v Barbarians (NMMU)
Monday, March 23 - 7.30pm
West Sports Grounds, Johannesburg

Click here for all the results in the 2009 season or for the final log standings!