The heat is on as the countdown to the Varsity Shield begins

The 2024 FNB Varsity Cup and FNB Varsity Shield competitions are ready to once again
showcase the best of student rugby the country has to offer.
The Varsity Cup competition kicks off on Monday 19 February when FNB UFS Shimlas and
FNB UCT Ikeys take to the field in Cape Town (16:45). The clash between FNB WSU and FNB
UKZN in Mdantsane at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium (19:00) on Thursday 22 February sees the
start of the Varsity Shield competition.
After back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles last year by the Springboks in France, all eyes will
be on the future stars of South African rugby for the next two months. And with more than
50 players having made the giant leap from Varsity Cup and Varsity Shield to the Springboks,
including multiple World Cup winners, it is no wonder that Varsity Cup founder and 1995
Rugby World Cup winning captain Francois Pienaar says he is proud of the achievements so
far.
“The competitiveness we’ve witnessed in Varsity Cup and Shield promises the graduation of
even more stars to the Springboks, affirming that the system works as a perfect bridge
between high school and provincial rugby.
“I’m also excited by developments in the Shield competition with the addition of a Varsity
College team highlighting the importance of promotion and relegation. And then building on
the success of last year’s first FNB Varsity Cup Women, this year FNB UWC will be joining,
reflecting the significant growth of women’s rugby.
“In essence, these developments amplify the Varsity Cup and Shield’s role as the ultimate
platform for aspiring rugby players, fostering talent and diversity whilst playing cracking
rugby!”
There are a few notable changes from the 2023 competition and a few additional highlights
for 2024. These include that the majority of Shield matches will take place on Fridays with
only a handful on Thursdays.
There is furthermore great excitement around mascots that will be a key feature of this
year’s tournament. According to Pienaar, this will add a certain “vibrancy and spirit to the
matches.”
When it comes to being eager and rearing to go, FNB NWU Eagles cannot wait to defend
their Varsity Cup title after they narrowly beat FNB UCT Ikeys (27-25) in last year’s final on
home turf in Potchefstroom. If they manage to do so, they will add a third trophy to their
cabinet.
Fresh of a five-day training camp on the banks of the Vaal River, NWU head coach Burger
van der Westhuizen says while it was fantastic to go into this year’s competition as
defending champions, they are under no illusion as to what lies ahead in 2024.

“What happened last year, happened last year and we are starting this year on a clean slate.
The Varsity Cup is probably the best university competition in the world and looking at the
teams who will compete this year, it is once again going to be extremely tough. Any team
can win or lose on any given Monday. I am happy with our preparations so far as all the guys
have put in the hard yards to be ready for the couple of months.”
This year the Varsity Cup will be contested without former powerhouse FNB UP-Tuks for the
first time in the competition’s history. Champions in 2012, 2013, 2017, 2021 and 2022, the
Pretoria-based team failed to win a single match last year and will now play in the Varsity
Shield.
Tuks’ loss was FNB UWC’s gain after the Capetonians were crowned the 2023 Varsity Shield
champions following victory over FNB CPUT in the final.
UWC head coach Paul Treu says climbing the ladder to the Varsity Cup is a daunting task,
but not a challenge they are going to shy away from.
“We are grateful to be back in the main competition, as a university we believe that is
where we belong. Our first goal is going to be to stay in the Varsity Cup and then to prevent
the up-and-down from one year you are in the Cup, and then the next you are back in the
Shield. So, we need to create some form of consistency in our performances and to stay in
the Cup for longer than what other people may think.”