2025 Varsity Cup

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 EaglesNorth-West UniversityFanie du Toit Sport Ground, Potchefstroom
MatiesStellenbosch UniversityDanie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
UFS ShimlasUniversity of the Free StateShimla Park, Bloemfontein
UCT Ikey TigersUniversity of Cape TownUCT Rugby Fields, Cape Town
WitsUniversity of the WitwatersrandWits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg
UJUniversity of JohannesburgUJ Stadium, Johannesburg
CUT IxiasCentral University of TechnologyCUT Stadium, Bloemfontein
UP TuksUniversity of PretoriaUP 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 7601248131+1155130
2 UP Tuks 7502254183+715127
3 UCT Ikey Tigers 7502273180+934226
4 UFS Shimlas 7403249258−94222
5 NWU Eagles 7403324161+1754121
6 CUT Ixias 7304140300−1702111
7 UJ 7106164265−103419
8 Wits 7007147321−172125
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 rugby ballReportTry: Erasmus rugby ball (3)
De Jager rugby ball (2)
Volmoer rugby ball
Van der Merwe rugby ball
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 rugby ball 39'
Myeni rugby ball 41'
February rugby ball 64'
Louw rugby ball 74'
Con: Burger rugby goalposts icon 42', rugby goalposts icon 75'
Pen: Burger (12 p), (20 p), (24 p)
Cards: Manuel Yellow card 28'		ReportTry: Nel rugby ball 7', rugby ball 43'
Burger rugby ball 10'
Nyali rugby ball 38'
Blanckenberg rugby ball 56'
Con: Makhaza rugby goalposts icon 7', rugby goalposts icon 11', rugby goalposts icon 39', rugby goalposts icon 43', rugby goalposts icon 57'
Pen: Makhaza (22 p), (26 p), (77 p)
Cards: Dyonase Yellow card 33'
Koevort Yellow card 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 rugby ball 48'
Con: Van Heerden Smith rugby goalposts icon 48'
Pen: Van Heerden Smith (2 p), (6 p), (12 p), (69 p)
Cards: Lubbe Yellow card 28'
Botha Yellow card 29'
Makula Yellow card 80'		ReportTry: penalty try rugby ball 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 rugby ball 10'
Leotlela rugby ball 66'
Con: Van Heerden Smith rugby goalposts icon 67'
Pen: Van Heerden Smith (5 p), (27 p), (49 p)		ReportTry: Makhaza rugby ball 2', rugby ball 12'
Koevort rugby ball 63'
Daars rugby ball 74'
Con: Makhaza rugby goalposts icon 3', rugby goalposts icon 13', rugby goalposts icon 64', rugby goalposts icon 75'
Pen: Makhaza (55 p), (71 p), (77 p)
Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Referee: Sean Muller
Maties
UCT
FB15Eldridge Jack
RW14Joel Leotlela
OC13Ryan Manuel
IC12CJ Marx
LW11Grant De Jager
FH10Christiaan van Heerden Smith
SH9Ezekiel Ngobeni (c)
N88Ethan Snyman
OF7Luan Botha
BF6Fortune Mpofu
RL5Carel Van Der Merwe
LL4Zuko Poswa
TP3Herman Lubbe
HK2Armand Combrink
LP1Prince Mulea
Replacements:
HK16CJ Erasmus
PR17Janu Basson
PR18Jason Johnson
LK19Michael Chettoa
LF20Reuben Kruger
SH21Mckyle Volmoer
CE22Samuel Badenhorst
FB23Dylan Miller
Coach:
Kabamba Floors
FB15Duran Rayn Koevort
RW14Rethabile Louw
OC13Thomas Nel
IC12Luke Burger
LW11Ntokozo Makhaza
FH10Alex vermeulen
SH9Monray Daars
N88Xola Nyali
OF7Connor Jack Gordon
BF6Siphomezo Dyonase (c)
RL5Danio Botha
LL4Enos Ndiao
TP3Zachary Porthen
HK2Keagan Blanckenberg
LP1Matthew Beckett
Replacements:
HK16J Lombard
PR17M Khuzwayo
PR18J Okonkwo
LK19K Mills
N820A Da Costa
SH21J Miller
FH22K Davis
CE23A 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)

Young Guns

Results

The following matches were played in the 2025 Young Guns Varsity Cup tournament:

Round 1

24 February 2025
Maties Juniors12-11Wits Young Guns
24 February 2025
UCT Trojans52-12CUT Young Guns

Round 2

3 March 2025
UCT Trojans26-11UJ Young Guns

Round 3

10 March 2025
CUT Young Guns31-55UJ Young Guns

Round 4

17 March 2025
CUT Young Guns19-64UCT Trojans

Round 5

24 March 2025
UJ Young Guns27-30UCT Trojans

Round 6

31 March 2025
UJ Young Guns41-38CUT Young Guns

Semi finals

Finals

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. 1 2 3 4 "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.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.