Two time title winners and current reigning champions, University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Ikey Tigers are arguably the favourites to retain the title after last year’s epic win over North West University’s (NWU) Pukke in the final. UCT will have to overcome the challenge posed by cross-town rivals Stellenbosch in their opening fixture of the tournament.
Maties are the only team to ever win three consecutive Varsity Cup titles, which is also the record for the most number of titles. They will look to reassert their dominance in the Varsity Cup scene once again as they go in search of their fourth title. Maties will have senior players like loose forward Justin Ben, who brings great leadership and versatility to the pack, to lead the charge.
2014 finalists NWU-Pukke were left lamenting when they lost to UCT after conceding three tries in the last seven minutes of the final. It was a game lost under unimaginable circumstances and one is inclined to believe that Pukke will be back to make amends for their shortcomings last year. Pukke will look to be inspired by the attacking flair of Sylvian Mahuza once again, the man who crossed the whitewash six times in the 2014 edition.
UP-Tuks were left disappointed in last year’s event as they crashed out of the tournament after a promising start to the campaign. UP-Tuks have won the Varsity Cup title twice and will be hungry to claim the title again this year. UP-Tuks flank Christiaan Pieter de Bruin, along with tight head Dayan Van der Westhuizen, will look to inject physicality into the Tuks forward pack as Tuks launch their assault on the title. Much will be required of the UP-Tuks senior players as well as they go into this tournament without their former leader Reniel Hugo.
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) have consistently appeared in the Varsity Cup since it’s inauguration in 2008 but had an indifferent season last year. They boast a team that consists of former u/20 Springbok lock Victor Kutlwano Sekekete. The lanky junior international will be raring to go after enjoying a great 2014 season.
The University of the Free State (UFS) Shimlas will be on the hunt for their first Varsity Cup title. They have never progressed beyond the semis and this is a record they will look to rectify in 2015.
NWU-Pukke will kick-off the tournament against Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) at the Fanie du Toit stadium on 9 February. NMMU will fancy their chances for a first title as they still have their leading try scorer from last year’s campaign Michael Bernardt who scored four tries for them.
This year Wits find themselves in the realm of the second tier Varsity Shield. They were relegated from the Varsity Cup last year after being rooted to the bottom of the table at the conclusion of the tournament. They will contest the Varsity Shield against four other universities, including the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Vikings who are eager to gain promotion to the Varsity Cup.
With all that said, it looks set to be yet another sterling season of Varsity Cup rugby this year. For the young budding players, it’s an opportunity to break into professional rugby, and with the Rugby World Cup just around the corner the stakes have never been higher.
