How the opening round could shape the Varsity Cup title race
PREVIEW: Rugby365 runs the rule over each of the eight teams ahead of the start of the Varsity Cup.
The 19th edition of the Varsity Cup kicks off on Monday, February 16, with UFS Shimlas hosting the Maties at 16.45 (local time).
Three matches will be staged under lights at 19.00, with Tuks hosting the UCT Ikeys in Pretoria, CUT Ixias facing the NWU Eagles in Bloemfontein, and UJ tackling the newly promoted and rebranded Emeris (previously Varsity College) in Johannesburg.
Following the league phase, the top four teams will advance to the semifinals – while the grand final will be staged on April 13.
As per tournament rules, the team that finishes last in the league will be automatically relegated to the Varsity Shield, while the seventh-placed Varsity Cup side will face off against the second-placed Shield team in a promotion-relegation play-off.
Wits were automatically relegated in 2025 after finishing last in the Varsity Cup league, while UJ avoided the drop after beating the Madibaz in the promotion-relegation clash.
The Varsity Shield competition kicks off this Friday, with CPUT hosting the Madibaz, WSU facing Wits, UFH battling UWC, and UKZN going toe to toe with SPU.
Rugby365 takes a closer look at the recent form of the Varsity Cup teams, as well as their expectations for the 2026 campaign.
CUT IXIAS
TITLES: 0
2025 LOG FINISH: 6th
COACH: Lubabalo Lento
The Ixias made headlines for all the wrong reasons last season, after they were docked five log points for fielding an ineligible player.
They never quite recovered in subsequent rounds and failed to achieve their goal of qualifying for the Varsity Cup play-offs for the first time.
CUT’s chances of making history in 2026 may hinge on results against other “borderline teams”.
The opening round clash against the NWU Eagles in Bloemfontein should be viewed as an opportunity to make an early statement of intent.
EMERIS
TITLES: 0
2025 LOG FINISH: 1st in the Varsity Shield (promoted)
COACH: Jeremy McLaren
Varsity College finished at the top of the Varsity Shield standings last year to secure promotion to the 2026 Varsity Cup – and went on to beat CPUT and the Madibaz to clinch the second division title.
Following a merger of several educational institutions, the team will compete under the Emeris banner in 2026.
The newcomers will need to adapt to the intensity and pace of the premier league if they are going to be competitive in the coming months.
Failure to do so could result in a last-place finish and a drop back down to the Shield.
Their first match against UJ may be their most important in this respect – and it’s fair to say that a win in Johannesburg will boost their chances of remaining in the top flight.
MATIES
TITLES: 5
2025 LOG FINISH: 1st (Losing finalists)
COACH: Kabamba Floors
Along with Tuks, Maties are the most successful Varsity Cup side in history, having won five titles since the inaugural tournament in 2008.
That said, their last title success was in 2019, and they have let several golden opportunities slip in recent seasons.
In 2025, Maties were the form side in the tournament across the league phase, winning six of their seven matches.
But after dethroning Shimlas – the 2024 champions – in the semifinals, Maties lost 21-44 to UCT in the decider staged at the Danie Craven Stadium.
While consistency has become the Maties’ watchword in recent years, they must ensure that they peak at the right time in 2026.
NWU EAGLES
TITLES: 2
2025 LOG FINISH: 5th
COACH: Burger van der Westhuizen
The Eagles finished the 2025 league phase with the best point-difference in the competition (175) but were pipped by the Shimlas for a spot in the play-offs.
One log point separated the teams in the final league standings, ensuring that the side from the Free State advanced to the knockouts.
This season, NWU should push for a more consistent performance across the league phase.
As seen in 2025, a four-from-seven record won’t necessarily guarantee them a place in the final four.
While an improved showing against the top dogs will be mandatory, the Eagles must ensure that they bank maximum points against other “borderline” teams – such as CUT, who they thrashed 117-19 at the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds in 2025.
A repeat performance in Bloemfontein this coming Monday – or something similar – would mark the perfect start to their season.
UCT IKEYS
TITLES: 3
2025 LOG FINISH: 3rd (Champions)
COACH: Robbie Fleck
The Ikeys qualified for three finals between 2021 and 2024, and finished on the losing side on each occasion.
Having buried their final bogey in 2025 – and in some style – the big question is whether they can become the first UCT side in history to successfully defend a Varsity Cup title.
The Ikeys have a tough opening fixture against Tuks in Pretoria, but may be buoyed by the fact that they won the 2025 semifinal at the same venue in 2025 (48-35).
If they pick up another win in Pretoria this coming Monday, they should have the chance to consolidate their log position in the following two weeks, with a home match against Ixias and a visit to Emeris to come.
While they grew in stature as the 2025 season progressed – and embraced challenging away fixtures – they won’t want to leave themselves with too much to do at the back-end of the 2026 league phase.
UCT will travel to Shimlas and the NWU Eagles in the final two rounds.
UFS SHIMLAS
TITLES: 2
2025 LOG FINISH: 4th (Losing semifinalists)
COACH: André Tredoux
The Shimlas started the 2025 season with the goal of defending their 2024 title, yet qualified for the play-offs by the slimmest of margins.
They were well beaten by Maties in the semifinal staged in Stellenbosch (19-7).
A closer look at their league results reveals how they lost to Maties and UCT over the course of the league stage, as well as the Eagles, who they would eventually pip for a play-off place.
With that in mind, the Shimlas’ ability to close out the big matches will be under scrutiny this season.
They will be put to the test from the outset when they host Maties in the opening round – and the side from Stellenbosch will have their own point to prove after losing the 2025 final.
UJ
TITLES: 0
2025 LOG FINISH: 7th
COACH: Therlow Pietersen
UJ have occupied the bottom half of the log in recent seasons, and have survived more than a few relegation scares.
Following another underwhelming campaign in 2025, they edged the Madibaz 24-21 in the promotion-relegation play-off to guarantee their ongoing participation in the Varsity Cup – at least for another season.
With a new coach in tow, UJ will be aiming to start the new year and era on a winning note.
But if they don’t beat the newly promoted Emeris in Johannesburg next week, they could face yet another intense scrap for survival in the coming months.
UP-TUKS
TITLES: 5
2025 FINISH: 2nd (Losing semifinalists)
COACH: Dewey Swartbooi
A resurgent Tuks side was one of the success stories of the 2025 season.
Having endured the humiliation of relegation at the end of the 2023 campaign, they fought their way back to win the ensuing Varsity Shield tournament, and then kept their promise to hit the ground running in their comeback season in the Cup.
Tuks finished the 2025 league phase in second place, but failed to contain a rampant UCT side in the semifinal staged in Pretoria.
While they will take a lot of positives out of the 2025 campaign, they will be desperate to atone for that play-off performance.
As fate would have it, they will have the opportunity to do so in the very first round, when UCT visit Pretoria.
Tuks have a tough draw, though, with away matches against Shimlas and Maties to follow.
If they don’t hit their straps from the outset, they may be forced to play catch-up at the back-end of the league phase.
