Every year, thousands of students flood the residences at the University of Pretoria. From the depths of B1 in House TAU and the Kelder of The Tower to Die Gat van Kollege and Camelot at Tuks Ekhaya, a familiar chant begins to echo through the halls. It is the sound of Wednesday nights: the call to the fields of LC de Villiers.
For the uninitiated, the TuksRugby Res League, better known as Koshuisrugby, is the heartbeat of Hillcrest Campus. Male residences from Hatfield and beyond face off in a season-long campaign for dominance.
Each season is divided into three distinct units:
- The u20s: The rising stars
- The Second Team: The grit and the depth
- The First Team: The heavy hitters fighting for the ultimate glory
While the league shifted to an open “franchise” format in 2014 – allowing anyone to put on a jersey for their chosen house – the change has done little to dilute the tribalism. The pride of the residences still flows thick through Hillcrest’s veins. These men do not just play for a scoreline; they play for the badge.
The rivalry at the summit is fiercer than ever. Last year, the grand final saw a titanic clash between Sonop and Tuks Ekhaya, with Sonop securing their third consecutive title.
On 11 March, after a series of nail-biting postponements, the 2026 season finally kicked off with a bang. In a highly anticipated rematch of last year’s final, Tuks Ekhaya sought redemption, but Sonop proved why they wear the crown. With clinical execution, the defending champions overpowered Ekhaya once again to claim an opening-night victory of 33-0.
The dust has barely settled on round one, and the intensity is only going to rise. If you want to witness the fiercest rivalries in Pretoria, there is only one place to be when the sun goes down on a Wednesday. See you at LC de Villiers.
