Varsity Cup 2026 explodes into life with try-fest opening round

The opening round of the 2026 FNB Varsity Cup delivered a wave of high-scoring, dominant performances across the board on Monday, highlighted by UP-Tuks stunning defending champions UCT Ikeys 38-22 at Tuks Stadium. 

UFS Shimlas launched their campaign in emphatic fashion, overpowering Maties 50-39 in a high-tempo thriller that produced 13 tries at Shimla Park in Bloemfontein. 

At CUT Stadium, NWU Eagles claimed all the points in a high-scoring clash, defeating the home side CUT 59-42 in an attacking spectacle. 

In Johannesburg, UJ ran rampant in their opening fixture, sealing a comprehensive 61-41 victory over newly promoted Emeris in a dominant display.

UFS SHIMLAS 50-39 MATIES

The UFS Shimlas drew first blood in the 2026 Varsity Cup with a thrilling bonus-point 50-39 victory over the Maties at Shimla Park in Bloemfontein.

The high-scoring clash marked a historic moment in the tournament’s history, with the first-ever powerplay (tap) tries being scored. That honour, however, went to the visitors from the Cape Winelands.

Shimlas burst out of the blocks, racing into a commanding 21-0 lead within the first 25 minutes.

Winger Kirwin du Preez, centre Wynand Botha and hooker Jaco Bezuidenhout all crossed the whitewash as the hosts stamped their authority early on.

Just minutes before halftime, Maties clawed their way back with a second try. Instead of opting for a routine conversion, they backed themselves and went for the quick tap, which paid off handsomely as CJ Marx crashed over to score the tournament’s first-ever powerplay try.

Shimlas went into the break holding a slender 21–17 lead after a momentum-swinging end to the half.

Maties came out firing in the second half, with Christiaan van Heerden Smith and Armand Combrinck dotting down to swing the pressure onto the home side. But Shimlas responded in style.

The impressive lock Maynard Kleynhans showed surprising pace, beating defenders down the touchline like a winger to score in the corner.

Liam Shamburg then added his name to the scoresheet in a standout performance that earned him the Player of the Match award.

Captain Bradley Giddy kept his composure under pressure, slotting two long-range kicks to stretch the lead and put the game seemingly out of reach for the five-time champions. Yet Maties refused to roll over.

Replacement hooker CJ Erasmus powered over on the stroke of fulltime, and in another successful powerplay move, lock Zuko Poswa grabbed an additional five points to keep the scoreboard ticking.

In the end, Shimlas had done enough to secure a memorable opening-night victory in front of their passionate home crowd.

The evening was also a poignant one in Bloemfontein as the Shimlas paid tribute to two recently departed legends of the game - Oom Tat Botha and former Springbok hooker Wessel Lightfoot - making the victory even more meaningful on a special night at Shimla Park.

SCORERS

FNB UFS Shimlas: (21) 50 Tries: Kirwin du Preez (POR), Wynard Botha (POR), Jaco Bezuidenhout X2, Maynard Kleynhans (POR), Liam Shamburg.

FNB Maties: (17) 39 Tries: Fortune Mpofu, Rynhardt van der Linden, CJ Marx (powerplay), Christiaan van Heerden Smith, Armand Combrinck, CJ Erasmus, Zuko Poswa.

FNB Player of the Match: Liam Shamburg (FNB UFS Shimlas)

TEAMS

FNB UFS Shimlas: Shaun Ray, Kirwin du Preez, Wynand Botha, Freddie Dreyer, Siviwe Zondani, Bradley Giddy (captain), Alastair-Cole Vermeulen, Liam Shamburg, Sandile Nzuza, Henri van Heerden, Maynard Kleynhans, Arno Van der Merwe, Ongeziwe Mobo, Jacobus Bezuidenhout, Ox Ngema.

FNB Maties: Elridge Jack, Rynhardt van der Linden, Ryan Manuel, CJ Marx, Huhgo Van Zitters, Christiaan van Heerden Smith, Ezekiel Ngobeni (captain), Ethan Snyman, Luan Botha, Fortune Mpofu, Luke Swartz, Zuko Poswa, Keanuh Michaels, Armand Combrinck, Janlu Basson.

UP-TUKS 38-22 UCT IKEYS

UP-Tuks produced a stirring comeback to secure an emphatic 38-22 victory over the defending champions as the Varsity Cup burst into life at a packed Tuks Stadium.

The Pretoria side rose to the occasion against Ikeys, overturning an early deficit in a high-intensity, action-packed encounter.

It was a sloppy start from the home side as they conceded an early try. Winger Lezane Davis dotted down for Ikeys inside the first minute for a point of origin try. 

The home side responded quickly through captain Dillon Smith, also with a point of origin try, with newly signed flyhalf Divan Du Toit completing the extras.

The visitors were just getting started as they continued keeping Tuks at bay. Their efforts were swiftly rewarded with winger Jack Benade scoring another point of origin try.

Tuks looked dangerous on transition, coming within inches of scoring twice in the space of two minutes as they piled pressure on the defence.

The Stripe Generation grabbed the lead for the first time through winger Andile Myeni’s back-to-back tries. Some individual brilliance saw Myeni cut through Ikeys' defence like a sharp knife.

The winger wasted no time in completing his brace with a cheeky piece of play as Du Toit's cross-field kick found him out wide.

Deway Swartbooi’s troops were not done as they extended their lead to 11 points through Abel Pretorius. The big flank powered over from a driving maul as Tuks entered closed the first half with a 28-17 lead.

The two sides returned from the break composed and focused on their game plans. The home side maintained their healthy lead, while the Ikeys struggled to find cohesion.

In the 68th minute, Tuks extended their advantage through centre Kobus Janse van Rensburg, but the visitors quickly responded with a try from Aiden Norris five minutes later.

The remainder of the half remained scrappy until fullback Hopewell Ntshangase dived in the corner to seal Tuks’ 38-22 victory.

SCORERS

FNB UP-Tuks: (28) 38 Tries: Dillon Smith (POR), Andile Myeni X2, Abel Pretorius, Kobus Janse van Rensburg, Hopewell Ntshangase.

FNB UCT Ikeys: (17) 22 Tries: Lezane Davis, Jack Benade, Aidan Norris.

FNB Player of the Match: Divan Du Toit (FNB UP-Tuks)

TEAMS

FNB UP-Tuks: MJ Nel, Ruan van Blommestein, Jayd Austin, Oelof De Meyer, David Engongo, Abel Pretorius, Akhona Kunene, Dillon Smith (C), Chad-Lee Valentine, Divan Du Toit, Munashe Dukuswa, Christiaan Vlok, Kobus Janse van Rensburg, Andile Myeni, Hopewell Ntshangase.

FNB UCT Ikeys: Mathew Beckett, Nic Van Schalkwyk, Zuka Phiko, Ndiao Enos ©, Gordon Connor Jack, Nyali Xola, De Costa Aiden, Louw Isaiah, Daars Monray, Vermeulen Alex, Davis Lezane, Kritzinger Luke, Davis Kian, Benade Jack, Mokoena Setshaba.

UJ 61-41 EMERIS

A clinical second-half performance secured a comprehensive victory for UJ against Emeris.

The home side showed flare, tenacity and grit to down the newcomers in front of a sold-out crowd.

The first half was evenly matched, but Emeris led 21-19 courtesy of a brace by electric winger, Nkazimulo Mzolo, and a try by Jacques Marais.

The hosts were equally competitive and gave their supporters something to cheer about.

Ughan Africa opened the scoring in the 13th minute before Reuven Ferreira struck in the 26th minute.

Captain Thabang Mphafi showed why he’s the trusted leader and sliced his way past the Emeris defence for his side’s third.

The second half was all about UJ, and they went up a notch, playing an exciting brand of rugby.

Flyhalf Nicallen Gabrielsen dotted down, converted his own try and slotted over a penalty to snatch the lead for his side.

UJ’s forwards were phenomenal and, as a result, they scored three tries from a rolling maul through Kamo Molefe, Ryan Marimo and the reliable Josh Du Toit.

Emeris showed positive signs late on with back-to-back tries by Juan Orde Steyl and Edward Sigauke after opting for the tap instead of a conversion.

Steyl scored his second in the 80th minute, but the hosts closed the game off with two tries scored by Tholithemba Sobisi and Du Toit before JT Kapank scored a late penalty to seal the win.

SCORERS

FNB UJ: (19) 61 Tries: Ughan Africa, Reuven Ferreira, Thabang Mphafi, Nicallen Gabrielsen, Kamo Molefe, Ryan Marimo, Josh Du Toit X2, Tholithemba Sobisi.

FNB Emeris: (21) 41 Tries: Jacques Marais X2, Nkazimulo Mzolo X2, Juan Orde Steyl X2, Edward Sigauke.

FNB Player of the Match: Zian Cilliers (FNB UJ)

TEAMS

FNB UJ: Sifiso Magwaza, Ryan Marimo, Bian Janse van Rensburg, Thabo Mashigo, Juan Fourie, Toy Engelbercht, Josh Du Toit, Thabang Mphafi ©, Zian Cilliers, Nicallen Gabrielsen, Zenkosi Mthiyane, Reuven Ferreira, Exauce Kevani, Ughan Africa, JT Kapank.

FNB Emeris: Christoff Etzebeth, Jacques Marais ©, Nathi Ntuli, Sphephelo Mbonambi, Kuhle Mthimkhulu, Andrew Davis, Sinelifa Ncwana, Juan Orde Steyl, Abande Mthembu, Frederick Marx, Edward Sigauke, Mambo Mkhize, Chris Horak, Nkazimulo Mzolo, Chijindu Okota.

CUT 42-59 NWU EAGLES

It was an absolute try-fest in Bloemfontein as a powerful second-half surge saw the NWU Eagles claim a hard-fought 59-42 victory to kick-off their 2026 Varsity Cup campaign in style against CUT.

While the forwards laid the platform with some serious hard graft up front, it was winger Therlow Prins who stole the headlines with a scintillating hat-trick.

Every time he touched the ball, something special seemed to happen.

The first half at a packed CUT Park was frenetic, with end-to-end action keeping supporters on the edge of their seats.

The visitors from Potchefstroom struck first, hooker Jordan McLoughlin rumbling over from a driving maul to open the scoring.

The Ixias hit back almost immediately. Jade Muller dotted down, and Kehan Myburgh added the extras to level matters.

From there, it became a shootout. Prins crossed for the NWU Eagles, but Winton Abrahams responded for the Bloemfontein outfit with a well-worked Point of Origin try.

Another seven-point effort, this time from Raydon Swartblooi, followed by a powerplay score from Malcolm Lamont saw CUT surge into a commanding 31-14 lead and swing the momentum firmly in their favour.

The Eagles, however, refused to go away. Luyolo Doyi got them back into the contest before captain Stephan Krugel crashed over during the powerplay.

Myburgh penalty ensured CUT took a 34-24 advantage into the break.

The second half told a different story.

NWU Eagles came out firing, with McLoughlin completing his brace to spark the comeback.

The Eagles then struck twice in quick succession to edge ahead, silencing the home crowd.

Emlyhn Jacobs kept CUT in the fight with a crucial try, but the two-time champions began to assert their authority.

Guhan du Bois crossed as the visitors tightened their grip on proceedings, before Hanro Venter dotted down to seal an impressive win for the men from the North West.

CUT may not have been able to close it out, but there were plenty of positives for the Bloemfontein side.

The team that took the field on Monday night looked a far cry from the outfit that struggled in the previous two seasons of the Varsity Cup.

On this showing, they will trouble more than a few teams in 2026.

SCORERS

FNB CUT: (34) 42 Tries: Jade Muller, Winton Abrahams, Raydon Swartbooi, Malcolm Lamont, Emlyhn Jacobs.

FNB NWU Eagles: (24) 59 Tries: Jordan Mcloughlin X2, Therlow Prins X3, Luyolo Doyi, Stephan Krugel, Guhan Du Bois, Hanro Venter.

FNB Player of the Match: Kehan Myburgh (FNB CUT)

TEAMS

FNB CUT: Devinto Vergotine, Jade Muller, Matthys Corneluis Malan, Kutlo Seyoko, Kehan Myburgh, Raydon Swartbooi, Hope Seyaga, Oyama Frans, Jordan Davids, Durandt Van Aswegen, Jean Louis Theron, Malcolm Lamont, Tokelo Ntaopane (captain), Jan- Hendrik Bessenger.

FNB NWU Eagles: Luan Van der Walt, Luyolo Doyi, Matthew Fortuin, Aiden De Villiers, Therlow Prins, MJ Mostert, Njabulo Dladla, Sean Roulston, Tian Van Zyl, Ricardo Fourie, Stephan Krugel (captain), Raniel Turner, Jason Oosthuizen, Jordan Mcloughlin, Alethwa Buthelezi.