2025 Varsity Cup

This article is about the 2025 Varsity Cup FNB rugby tournament. For the Varsity Shield tournament, see 2026 Varsity Shield. For all things related to Varsity Rugby, see Varsity Rugby.

2025 Varsity Cup
CountriesSouth Africa
Date17 February – 24 April 2025
ChampionsUCT Ikey Tigers (3rd title)
Runners-upMaties
PromotedEmeris (Varsity College)
RelegatedWits
Matches played59
Top point scorerNtokozo Makaza (118)
Official website
varsitycup.co.za

The 2025 Varsity Cup was the 18th season of the Varsity Cup, the top competition in the annual Varsity Rugby series in men's rugby union. It was played between 17 February and 14 April 2025 and featured eight university teams.[1]

One of the key storylines of the season was the UP Tuks resurgence, securing a place in the semifinals following a crucial 29‑19 victory over Stellenbosch's Maties in late March.[2] In the championship match at the Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch in Stellenbosch, the UCT Ikey Tigers captured the title with an emphatic 44‑21 win over MatMaties, claiming their third Varsity Cup crown.[3] The final was played in front of a packed stadium, highlighting the continued growth in popularity of university rugby in South Africa.[4]

Competition rules and information

There were eight participating university teams in the 2025 Varsity Cup. They played each other once during the pool stage, either at home or away. Teams received four points for a win and two points for a draw. Bonus points were awarded to teams that scored four or more tries in a game, as well as to teams that lost a match by seven points or less. Teams were ranked by log points, then points difference (points scored less points conceded).

The top four teams after the pool stage qualified for the semifinals, which were followed by a final.

Teams

Location of teams in the 2025 Varsity Cup
Western Cape

The teams that played in the 2025 Varsity Cup are:

2025 Varsity Cup teams
Team name University Stadium
NWU Eagles North-West University Fanie du Toit Sport Ground, Potchefstroom
Maties Stellenbosch University Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
UFS Shimlas University of the Free State Shimla Park, Bloemfontein
UCT Ikey Tigers University of Cape Town UCT Rugby Fields, Cape Town
Wits University of the Witwatersrand Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg
UJ University of Johannesburg UJ Stadium, Johannesburg
CUT Ixias Central University of Technology CUT Stadium, Bloemfontein
UP Tuks University of Pretoria UP Tuks Stadium

Standings

2025 Varsity Cup Log

The final log for the 2025 Varsity Cup was:

2025 Varsity Cup log
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts
1 Maties 7 6 0 1 248 131 +115 5 1 30
2 UP Tuks 7 5 0 2 254 183 +71 5 1 27
3 UCT Ikey Tigers 7 5 0 2 273 180 +93 4 2 26
4 UFS Shimlas 7 4 0 3 249 258 −9 4 2 22
5 NWU Eagles 7 4 0 3 324 161 +175 4 1 21
6 CUT Ixias 7 3 0 4 140 300 −170 2 1 11
7 UJ 7 1 0 6 164 265 −103 4 1 9
8 Wits 7 0 0 7 147 321 −172 1 2 5
Legend and competition rules
Legend:
Qualified for the semifinals. P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TF = Tries for, TA = Tries against, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points
Competition rules:
Qualification:
The top four teams qualified for the semifinals.
Points breakdown:
* 4 points for a win
* 2 points for a draw
* 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less
* 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

Round-by-round

Team Progression – 2025 Varsity Cup
Team R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 Semi Final
UCT Ikey Tigers 4
(4th) 		5
(4th) 		10
(4th) 		15
(3rd) 		16
(3rd) 		21
(3rd) 		25
(2nd) 		Won
Won
Maties 5
(3rd) 		10
(2nd) 		15
(1st) 		20
(1st) 		25
(1st) 		25
(2nd) 		30
(1st) 		Won
Lost
UFS Shimlas 2
(5th) 		7
(3rd) 		12
(2nd) 		12
(4th) 		16
(4th) 		17
(4th) 		22
(4th) 		Lost
N/a
UP Tuks 5
(1st) 		10
(1st) 		12
(3rd) 		17
(2nd) 		21
(2nd) 		26
(1st) 		27
(2nd) 		Lost
N/a
UJ 0
(7th) 		1
(7th) 		3
(7th) 		3
(7th) 		8
(6th) 		8
(7th) 		9
(7th) 		N/a N/a
CUT Ixias 5
(2nd) 		4
(5th) 		4
(6th) 		5
(6th) 		6
(7th) 		11
(6th) 		11
(6th) 		N/a N/a
NWU Eagles 0
(6th) 		1
(6th) 		6
(5th) 		11
(5th) 		11
(5th) 		16
(5th) 		21
(5th) 		N/a N/a
Wits 0
(8th) 		1
(8th) 		2
(8th) 		2
(8th) 		3
(8th) 		5
(8th) 		5
(8th) 		N/a N/a

The table above shows a team's progression throughout the season.
For each round, their cumulative points total is shown with the overall log position in brackets.
Key: win draw loss

Pool stage

Matches

The following matches were played in the 2025 Varsity Cup:

Round one

17 February 2025 Maties 41–37 UFS Shimlas Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch  
17:00 Report
17 February 2025 UJ 13–29 CUT Ixias UJ Stadium, Johannesburg  
17:00 Report
17 February 2025 Wits 8–35 UP Tuks Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg  
17:00 Report
18 February 2025 UCT Ikey Tigers 32–23 NWU Eagles UCT Rugby Fields, Cape Town  
10:00 Report

Round two

24 February 2025 UP Tuks 37–29 UJ LC de Villiers Stadium, Pretoria  
14:45 Report
24 February 2025 CUT Stadium, Bloemfontein 23–19 UCT Ikey Tigers CUT Stadium, Bloemfontein  
17:00 Report
24 February 2025 NWU Eagles 27–29 Maties Fanie du Toit Sport Ground, Potchefstroom  
17:00 Report
24 February 2025 UFS Shimlas 59–29 Wits Shimla Park, Bloemfontein  
17:00 Report

Round three

3 March 2025 UFS Shimlas 49–45 UJ Shimla Park, Bloemfontein  
14:45 Report
3 March 2025 Maties 54–0 CUT Ixias Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch  
17:00 Report
3 March 2025 UCT Ikey Tigers 36–29 UP Tuks UCT Rugby Fields, Cape Town  
17:00 Report
3 March 2025 Wits 34–39 NWU Eagles Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg  
17:00 Report

Round four

10 March 2025 CUT Ixias 26–63 UP Tuks CUT Stadium, Bloemfontein  
14:45 Report
10 March 2025 NWU Eagles 59–14 UFS Shimlas Fanie du Toit Sport Ground, Potchefstroom  
17:00 Report
10 March 2025 UCT Ikey Tigers 73–17 Wits UCT Rugby Fields, Cape Town  
17:00 Report
10 March 2025 UJ 7–25 Maties UJ Stadium, Johannesburg  
17:00 Report

Round five

17 March 2025 Wits 24–32 UJ Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg  
14:45 Report
17 March 2025 Maties 31–24 UCT Ikey Tigers Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch  
17:00 Report
17 March 2025 UFS Shimlas 16–9 CUT Ixias Shimla Park, Bloemfontein  
17:00 Report
17 March 2025 UP Tuks 26–17 NWU Eagles LC de Villiers Stadium, Pretoria  
17:00 Report

Round six

24 March 2025 UCT Ikey Tigers 40–26 UFS Shimlas UCT Rugby Fields, Cape Town  
14:45 Report
24 March 2025 CUT Ixias 34–28 Wits CUT Stadium, Bloemfontein  
17:00 Report
24 March 2025 Maties 19–29 UP Tuks Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch  
17:00 Report
24 March 2025 NWU Eagles 52–7 UJ Fanie du Toit Sport Ground, Potchefstroom  
17:00 Report

Round seven

31 March 2025 UJ 31–49 UCT Ikey Tigers UJ Stadium, Johannesburg  
14:45 Report
31 March 2025 NWU Eagles 107–19 CUT Ixias Fanie du Toit Sport Ground, Potchefstroom  
17:00 Report
31 March 2025 UP Tuks 35–48 UFS Shimlas LC de Villiers Stadium, Pretoria  
17:00 Report
31 March 2025
17:00
Wits7–49Maties
Try: Khosa ReportTry: Erasmus (3)
De Jager (2)
Volmoer
Van der Merwe
Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg
Player that Rocks - Carel van der Merwe, Maties

Play-offs

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
7 April 2025
 
 
UP Tuks35
 
14 April 2025
 
UCT Ikey Tigers48
 
Maties21
 
7 April 2025
 
UCT Ikey Tigers44
 
Maties19
 
 
UFS Shimlas7
 

Semi-finals

7 April 2025
14:45
UP Tuks35–48UCT Ikey Tigers
Try: Nel  39'
Myeni  41'
February  64'
Louw  74'
Con: Burger  42',  75'
Pen: Burger (12 p), (20 p), (24 p)
Cards: Manuel  28'		ReportTry: Nel  7',  43'
Burger  10'
Nyali  38'
Blanckenberg  56'
Con: Makhaza  7',  11',  39',  43',  57'
Pen: Makhaza (22 p), (26 p), (77 p)
Cards: Dyonase  33'
Koevort  68'
LC de Villiers Stadium, Pretoria
FNB Player That Rocks - Keagan Blanckenberg, UCT Ikey Tigers
7 April 2025
17:00
Maties19-07UFS Shimlas
Try: De Jager  48'
Con: Van Heerden Smith  48'
Pen: Van Heerden Smith (2 p), (6 p), (12 p), (69 p)
Cards: Lubbe  28'
Botha  29'
Makula  80'		ReportTry: penalty try  28'
Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Referee: Hanru van Rooyen
FNB Player that Rocks - Carel Van Der Merwe, Maties

Final

14 April 2025
17:00
Maties21–44UCT Ikey Tigers
Try: Manuel  10'
Leotlela  66'
Con: Van Heerden Smith  67'
Pen: Van Heerden Smith (5 p), (27 p), (49 p)		ReportTry: Makhaza  2',  12'
Koevort  63'
Daars  74'
Con: Makhaza  3',  13',  64',  75'
Pen: Makhaza (55 p), (71 p), (77 p)
Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Referee: Sean Muller
Maties
UCT
FB 15 Eldridge Jack
RW 14 Joel Leotlela
OC 13 Ryan Manuel
IC 12 CJ Marx
LW 11 Grant De Jager
FH 10 Christiaan van Heerden Smith
SH 9 Ezekiel Ngobeni (c)
N8 8 Ethan Snyman
OF 7 Luan Botha
BF 6 Fortune Mpofu
RL 5 Carel Van Der Merwe
LL 4 Zuko Poswa
TP 3 Herman Lubbe
HK 2 Armand Combrink
LP 1 Prince Mulea
Replacements:
HK 16 CJ Erasmus
PR 17 Janu Basson
PR 18 Jason Johnson
LK 19 Michael Chettoa
LF 20 Reuben Kruger
SH 21 Mckyle Volmoer
CE 22 Samuel Badenhorst
FB 23 Dylan Miller
Coach:
Kabamba Floors
FB 15 Duran Rayn Koevort
RW 14 Rethabile Louw
OC 13 Thomas Nel
IC 12 Luke Burger
LW 11 Ntokozo Makhaza
FH 10 Alex vermeulen
SH 9 Monray Daars
N8 8 Xola Nyali
OF 7 Connor Jack Gordon
BF 6 Siphomezo Dyonase (c)
RL 5 Danio Botha
LL 4 Enos Ndiao
TP 3 Zachary Porthen
HK 2 Keagan Blanckenberg
LP 1 Matthew Beckett
Replacements:
HK 16 J Lombard
PR 17 M Khuzwayo
PR 18 J Okonkwo
LK 19 K Mills
N8 20 A Da Costa
SH 21 J Miller
FH 22 K Davis
CE 23 A Norris
Coach:
Robbie Fleck

Player of the Match:
Keagan Blanckenberg UCT Ikey Tigers [5]

Assistant referees:
Hanru van Rooyen (South Africa),[5] Jonathan Lottering (South Africa) [5]
Television match official:
Egon Seconds (South Africa)[5]


Honours

The honour roll for the 2025 Varsity Cup was as follows: [6]

2025 Varsity Cup Honours
Champions: UCT Ikey Tigers (3rd title)
Player That Rocks: Ntokozo Makhaza, UCT Ikey Tigers
Forward That Rocks: Carel van der Merwe, Maties
Back That Rocks: Ntokozo Makhaza, UCT Ikey Tigers
Rookie of the year: Alzeadon Felix, UJ
Top Points Scorer: Ntokozo Makhaza, UCT Ikey Tigers (118)

References

  1. ^ "Varsity Cup 2025". superbru.co.za.
  2. ^ "Tuks book place in Varsity Cup semi‑final with victory over Maties". Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  3. ^ "UCT Ikeys hammer Maties in Varsity Cup final to silence Danie Craven Stadium faithful". Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  4. ^ "Rallying behind Ikey Tigers in Varsity Cup final". Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  5. ^ a b c d "FNB UCT triumph in thrilling final to be crowned FNB Varsity Cup 2025 champions". www.varsitycup.co.za. Varsity Cup. 14 April 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  6. ^ "Recap of FNB Varsity Cup 2025". varsitycup.co.za.
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