Tuks powers to historic sixth Varsity Cup title

MATCH REPORT: UP Tuks cemented their status as the most successful Varsity Cup team after overpowering the NWU Eagles by 31-3 in the Final.

The Eagles’ attack was no match for the Tuks defence, with the home side punishing the visitors’ errors, which they could not recover from.

In rainy conditions, Dewey Swartbooi’s men were simply more clinical and accurate and walked away as deserved winners on the evening.

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NWU Eagles failed to capitalise on early territorial dominance with Tuks’ defence proving to be too strong.

UP Tuks’ discipline was an issue, conceding five penalties in the opening 15 minutes and allowing the Eagles easy exits.

The discipline issues continued for Tuks, and Munashe Dukuswa was sent to the sinbin for a high tackle in the 18th minute.

Eagles flyhalf MJ Mostert soon after recorded the opening points of the Final with a penalty goal.

Divan du Toit levelled matters after 26 minutes to cancel out Mostert’s penalty with one of his own after the Eagles were deemed to be offside.

Tuks won a penalty against the run of play after Mostert lost the ball in contact inside the opposition’s 22 and opted for the corner.

The line-out backfired, but Tuks won another penalty as Ricardo Fourie kicked the ball out of the ruck as Tuks rolled the dice once more by going for the corner in the 33rd minute. Du Toit added the extras.

The decision paid off as Tuks scored a penalty try with Guhan du Bois sent to the sinbin for cynically collapsing the maul.

Tuks lost both their starting props two minutes before the halftime break, leaving them in a compromised position, but it did not dampen their forward dominance.

UP centre Christiaan Vlok was sent to the sinbin for a deliberate knock-on seconds from the break.

Mostert failed to close the gap with his penalty attempt as the teams headed to the sheds for oranges.

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Andile Myeni gets there first! The Stripe Generation speedster with the kick and chase to extend the @TuksSport lead in the final!#RugbyThatRocks #WhosNXT pic.twitter.com/0oHtFhwC7p

— Varsity Cup (@varsitycup) April 13, 2026

Tuks scored against the run of play after a loose ball was kicked ahead by fullback Hopewell Ntshangase, with Andile Myeni scoring a point of origin try.

The hosts, once again against the run of play off an Eagles error, won territory and a penalty and opted for the corner. Hooker Jean Fourie barged over the line off the rolling maul to extend the lead to 19 points.

Du Toit extended Tuks’ lead with a long-range penalty in the 54th minute, leaving the Eagles with a mountain to climb.

Du Toit slotted two more penalty goals from right in front of the posts in the final five minutes to seal the deal for the hosts.

Scorers

For UP Tuks:
Tries: Penalty try does not require a conversion, Myeni, Fourie
Pens: Du Toit 4

For NWU Eagles:
Pen: Mostert

Yellow cards: Munashe Dukuswa (UP Tuks, 18′ – Dangerous play: high tackle), Guhan du Bois (NWU Eagles, 33′ – Cynical foul: deliberately collapsing a maul), Christiaan Vlok (UP Tuks, 39′ -Cynical foul: deliberate knock-on)

Teams

UP Tuks: 15 Hopewell Ntshangase, 14 Andile Myeni, 13 Kobus Janse van Rensburg, 12 Christiaan Vlok, 11 Munashe Dukuswa, 10 Divan du Toit, 9 Akha Mjawule, 8 Dillon Smith (captain), 7 Oelof de Meyer, 6 Abel Pretorius, 5 Duncan Blignaut, 4 David Engongo, 3 Jayd Austin, 2 Jean Fourie, 1 Buhle Mpaka
Replacements: 16 Gustav van der Merwe, 17 Randy Muzungu, 18 Barnard Nortje, 19 Jacques Oberholzer, 20 Guvandre Moses, 21 Ighnatius Jantjies, 22 Dennis Obi, 23 Van Reenen Kruger

NWU Eagles: 15 Luan van der Walt, 14 Lyuolo Doyi, 13 Matthew Fortuin, 12 Leejay Petersen, 11 Logan Janeke, 10 MJ Mostert, 9 Zack Serfontein, 8 Sean Roulston, 7 Guhan du Bois, 6 Ricardo Fourie, 5 Raniel Turner, 4 Stephan Krugel, 3 Jason Oosthuizen, 2 Jordan McLoughlin, 1 Alethwa Buthelezi
Replacements: 16 Hanro Venter, 17 Bradley Stanfliet, 18 Jaco du Toit, 19 Schalk du Plessis, 20 Zihan Bensch, 21 Gary Otto, 22 Angelo Daniels, 23 Jamaine Dampies

Referee: Hernus Coetzee
Assistant referees: Jonathan Lottering, Paul Mente
TMO: Jaco Pretorius, Stephan Geldenhuys

Image credits: @VarsityCup