Defending champion Ikeys to face Tuks in Varsity Cup opener
NEWS: The stage is set for another unforgettable season of Rugby That Rocks as the Varsity Cup and Varsity Shield tournaments return in 2026 to once again cast the spotlight on South Africa’s most exciting student rugby talent.
The Varsity Shield kicks off on Friday, February 13, and the Varsity Cup follows with its opening round on Monday, February 16.
From the first whistle, fans can expect fast-paced rugby and the best vibe on campus.
Varsity Cup and Shield remain the clearest pathways in South African rugby, where 61 former Varsity Cup and Varsity Shield players went on to represent the Springboks. Every season adds new names to the story.
In 2026, the search to discover “Who’s NXT” begins. It connects the proud legacy of Varsity Cup and Shield with a future which is still being written.
Varsity Cup co-founder and CEO Francois Pienaar believes the theme captures the heart of what Varsity Rugby has always stood for.
“Varsity Cup has always been about opportunity and giving young players the platform to test themselves. It is about helping them grow and dream bigger,” said Pienaar.
“When we ask, ‘Who’s NXT?’ we celebrate the journey from student rugby to the highest level of the game.
“We want to inspire the next generation to step forward with courage and embrace the challenge in front of them, believing that every great rugby story starts somewhere. For many, that journey begins with the Rugby That Rocks.”
As the season unfolds, fans will be invited to ask and answer the questions. Who’s NXT to inspire? Who’s NXT to lead? Who’s NXT to win?
The 2026 season opens with clear targets on the backs of the defending champions.
UCT return as title holders after edging Maties in a dramatic Final. Expectations will be high, and challengers will be lining up from Round One.
The Ikeys will need to show once more that they can handle the pressure of being the team to beat.
UCT head coach Robbie Fleck says winning the 2025 title was not only about winning, but about how they won it.
“Our style has been our purpose. The way we play. The Ikey way. Once the players understood it and believed in the way we wanted to play, regardless of the result, we knew we were going to be there at the end and competing for that title.”
Despite several key players departing at the end of the season, Fleck remains excited for the 2026 season and what comes next.
“We would like to go back-to-back and be the first UCT team to ever achieve that. Our campaign this year is to be braver in everything we do. A braver UCT team is an even more dangerous one.”
Meanwhile, Varsity College enter the big league after lifting the Varsity Shield trophy and earning promotion.
The team will compete in the Varsity Cup in 2026 under the new Emeris brand name.
Their journey reflects the essence of “Who’s NXT.” It is a team stepping up with belief and hunger that will be looking to make an immediate impact.
Emeris Club Manager, Malcolm Kennedy, is embracing the opportunity.
“Winning the Varsity Shield in only our second season was an incredibly proud moment for Emeris.
“It validated the work that has gone in behind the scenes from our players and coaching staff to the broader support structures and showed that our program is built on strong foundations.
“For the team and the institution, it was more than just a trophy; it was confirmation that we belong at the highest level of university rugby.”
Head Coach Jeremy McLaren echoed that sentiment:
“I’m really proud of what the players and management have achieved. Any university will always dream of being able to play in a Varsity Cup campaign.
“It’s one of the top competitions in South Africa, so we are really, really happy to be the newbies.
“It means a lot to put our university on the map. We’re history makers and very excited to be part of it.”
The 2026 Varsity Cup and Varsity Shield promise another season of bold performances and breakthrough moments.
The question is no longer whether the next stars will emerge. The question is who they will be. Get ready to witness the future of South African rugby. The next chapter starts now.
See below for all Varsity Cup and Varsity Shield league matches!
*Kick-off is local time
Varsity Cup
Round One
February 16
UFS Shimlas v Maties – Shimla Park, Bloemfontein (16.45)
CUT v NWU Eagles – CUT Stadium, Bloemfontein (19.00)
UJ v Emeris – UJ Stadium, Johannesburg (19.00)
UP-Tuks v UCT Ikeys – Tuks Stadium, Pretoria (19.00)
Round Two
February 23
NWU Eagles v Emeris – Fanie du Toit Sports Ground, Potchefstroom (16.45)
UCT Ikeys v CUT – Green Mile, Cape Town (19.00)
UFS Shimlas v UP-Tuks – Shimla Park, Bloemfontein (19.00)
Maties v UJ – Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch (19.00)
Round Three
March 2
UJ v NWU Eagles – UJ Stadium, Johannesburg (16.45)
UP-Tuks v Maties – Tuks Stadium, Pretoria (19.00)
CUT v UFS Shimlas – CUT Stadium, Bloemfontein (19.00)
Emeris v UCT Ikeys – Emeris Durban North, Durban (19.00)
Round Four
March 9
UCT Ikeys v UJ – Green Mile, Cape Town (16.45)
Maties v Emeris – Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch (19.00)
UP-Tuks v CUT – Tuks Stadium, Pretoria (19.00)
UFS Shimlas v NWU Eagles – Shimla Park, Bloemfontein (19.00)
Round Five
March 16
UCT Ikeys v Maties – Green Mile, Cape Town (16.45)
UJ v UFS Shimlas – UJ Stadium, Johannesburg (19.00)
Emeris v CUT – Emeris Durban North, Durban (19.00)
NWU Eagles v UP-Tuks – Fanie du Toit Sports Ground, Potchefstroom (19.00)
Round Six
March 23
CUT v UJ – CUT Stadium, Bloemfontein (16.45)
UP-Tuks v Emeris – Tuks Stadium, Pretoria (19.00)
Maties v NWU Eagles – Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch (19.00)
UFS Shimlas v UCT Ikeys – Shimla Park, Bloemfontein (19.00)
Round Seven
March 30
NWU Eagles v UCT Ikeys – Fanie du Toit Sportsground, Potchefstroom (16.45)
UJ v UP-Tuks – UJ Stadium, Johannesburg (19.00)
CUT v Maties – CUT Stadium, Bloemfontein (19.00)
Emeris v UFS Shimlas – Emeris Durban North, Durban (19.00)
Varsity Shield
Round One
February 13
CPUT v Madibaz – CPUT, Cape Town (17.00)
UKZN v SPU – Howard College Stadium – UKZN, Durban (19.00)
UFH v UWC – Davidson Stadium, Alice (19.00)
SWU v Wits – Sisa Dukashe Stadium, East London (19.00)
Round Two
February 20
Madibaz v UKZN – Madibaz Stadium, Gqeberha (16.00)
UWC v CPUT UWC – Sports Stadium, Cape Town (17.00)
SPU v WSU – Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley (19.00)
Wits v UFH – Wits Stadium, Johannesburg (19.00)
Round Three
February 27
UFH v Madibaz – Davidson Stadium, Alice (17.00)
WSU v UWC – Sisa Dukashe Stadium, East London (19.00)
UKZN v Wits – Howard College Stadium, Durban
CPUT v SPU – CPUT, Cape Town (19.00)
Round Four
March 5
UFH v UKZN – Davidson Stadium, Alice (19.00)
March 6
Madibaz v WSU – Madibaz Stadium, Gqeberha (16.00)
Wits v CPUT – Wits Stadium, Johannesburg (17.00)
UWC v SPU – UWC Sports Stadium, Cape Town (19.00)
Round Five
March 13
Madibaz v Wits – Madibaz Stadium, Gqeberha (16.00)
SPU v UFH – Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley (17.00)
UKZN v UWC – Peter Booysen Stadium, Pietermaritzburg
CPUT v WSU – CPUT, Cape Town (19.00)
Round Six
March 19
WSU v UKZN – Sisa Dukashe Stadium, East London (19.00)
March 20
UWC v Madibaz – UWC Sports Stadium, Cape Town (17.00)
UFH V CPUT – Davidson Stadium, Alice (19.00)
Wits v SPU – Wits Stadium, Johannesburg (19.00)
Round Seven
March 27
UKZN v CPUT – Howard College Stadium, Durban (17.00)
SPU v Madibaz – Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley (19.00)
UWC v Wits – UWC Sports Stadium, Cape Town
WSU v UFH – Sisa Dukashe Stadium, East London
