Varsity Cup 2024

The Varsity Cup is a collection of four university rugby competitions in South Africa. Established in 2008, the tournament was part-founded by former Springbok captain, Francois Pienaar.

The inaugural Varsity Cup featured eight universities, including rugby powerhouses such as Maties, Ikey Tigers and UP Tuks. Three more cups were added in subsequent years: Res Rugby (2008), the Varsity Shield (2011) and the U20 Young Guns competition (2012). Collectively, the four tournaments became known as ‘Varsity Rugby’.

Over the years, the competition has grown in popularity and become a significant fixture in the South African rugby calendar (a Women’s Varsity Cup was also launched in 2023). Today, the tournament is particularly well known for its high-energy matches and talented players.

Varsity Cup News, Teams & Predictions

The Varsity Cup, the premier competition, is contested annually by South Africa’s top nine university rugby teams. The tournament follows a round-robin format, with each team playing against the others either at home or away. The top four teams then advance to the semi-finals.

Maties and UP Tuks are the most successful teams in Varsity Cup history with five wins each. Other notable sides include Ikey Tigers, NWU Eagles and UFS Shimlas, who have two wins each.

However, Varsity rugby is not just about competition. The tournament has also introduced several unique rules that add to the season’s enjoyability. For instance, depending on where an attacking move starts, teams can be awarded up to nine points for a try.

Interested in the latest Varsity Cup 2024 news? Track Varsity rugby news, predictions and updates here at Rugby365.