The 2015 Varsity Cup was contested from 9 February to 13 April 2015. The tournament (also known as the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International for sponsorship reasons) was the eighth season of the Varsity Cup, an annual inter-university rugby union competition featuring eight South African universities.

The tournament was won by , who beat 63–33 in the final played on 13 April 2015. No team was relegated to the second-tier Varsity Shield competition for 2016.

Competition rules and information

There were eight participating universities in the 2015 Varsity Cup. These teams played each other once over the course of the season, either home or away.

Teams received four points for a win and two points for a draw. Bonus points were awarded to teams that scored four or more tries in a game, as well as to teams that lost a match by seven points or less. Teams were ranked by log points, then points difference (points scored less points conceded).

The top four teams qualified for the title play-offs. In the semi-finals, the team that finished first had home advantage against the team that finished fourth, while the team that finished second had home advantage against the team that finished third. The winners of these semi-finals played each other in the final, at the home venue of the higher-placed team.

There was no relegation to the Varsity Shield at the end of the season.

The 2015 Varsity Cup used a different scoring system than the common scoring system. Tries were worth five points as usual, but conversions were worth three points instead of two, while penalties and drop goals were only worth two points instead of three.

All Varsity Cup games also had two referees officiating each game, props' jerseys featured a special gripping patch to ensure better binding, intended to reduce collapsing scrums and the mark was extended to the entire field.

The Varsity Cup also reintroduced the White Card system from 2015. Under this system, either team's coach or captain could refer incidents for further review, similar to the Umpire Decision Review System used in cricket. They could have incidents reviewed that they believed were either given incorrectly or went unnoticed by the on-field referees. Each team was entitled to one review in each half of the match; if a review proved successful, the team retained their white card review for that half, but if it was unsuccessful, they lost the right to further reviews for the remainder of the half.

Teams

The following teams took part in the 2015 Varsity Cup competition:

2015 Varsity Cup teams Team name University Stadium Central University of Technology Stellenbosch University Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University North-West University University of Cape Town University of the Free State University of Johannesburg University of Pretoria

Standings

The final league standings for the 2015 Varsity Cup were:

2015 Varsity Cup standings Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts 1 7 5 1 1 295 119 +176 41 15 7 1 30 2 7 6 1 0 227 116 +111 33 16 4 0 30 3 7 4 1 2 258 157 +101 33 23 4 0 22 4 7 3 1 3 212 184 +28 30 25 5 2 21 5 7 3 2 2 177 171 +6 24 23 4 1 21 6 7 3 0 4 113 113 0 17 16 2 1 15 7 7 1 0 6 131 220 −89 19 31 2 1 7 8 7 0 0 7 63 396 −333 9 57 0 0 0

Legend and competition rules Legend: Top four teams; qualify to semi-finals. P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TF = Tries for, TA = Tries against, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points No relegation. Competition rules: Play-offs: The top four teams qualify to the semi-finals. The first-placed team will host the fourth-placed team and the second-placed team will host the third-placed team.The higher-ranked semi-final winner will then host the lower-ranked semi-final winner in the final.

Points breakdown:* 4 points for a win* 2 points for a draw* 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less* 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

Round-by-round

The table below shows each team's progression throughout the season. For each round, their cumulative points total is shown with the overall log position in brackets:

Team Progression – 2015 Varsity Cup Team R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 Semi Final 3 (5th) 8 (1st) 13 (1st) 15 (2nd) 20 (1st) 25 (1st) 30 (1st) Lost 3 (5th) 7 (3rd) 12 (2nd) 16 (1st) 20 (2nd) 25 (2nd) 30 (2nd) Won Won 3 (3rd) 3 (7th) 8 (5th) 13 (5th) 18 (3rd) 18 (4th) 22 (3rd) Lost 5 (2nd) 8 (2nd) 9 (4th) 14 (4th) 14 (5th) 19 (3rd) 21 (4th) Won Lost 3 (3rd) 6 (5th) 6 (7th) 7 (6th) 11 (6th) 16 (5th) 21 (5th) 5 (1st) 5 (6th) 9 (3rd) 14 (3rd) 15 (4th) 15 (6th) 15 (6th) 1 (7th) 6 (4th) 6 (6th) 6 (7th) 7 (7th) 7 (7th) 7 (7th) 0 (8th) 0 (8th) 0 (8th) 0 (8th) 0 (8th) 0 (8th) 0 (8th) Key: win draw loss

Pool stages

The 2015 Varsity Cup fixtures were released as follows:

All times are South African (GMT+2).

Round one

Round two

Round three

Round four

Round five

Round six

Round seven

Play-offs

Semi-finals

Final

FB 15AJ Coertzen (c) RW 14Vuyani Maqina OC 13Nico LeeIC 12Tertius Kruger LW 11Maphutha Dolo FH 10Niel Marais SH 9 Renier Botha N8 8 Niell JordaanOF 7 Gerhard Olivier BF 6 Daniel MaartensRL 5 Johan van der Hoogt LL 4 Henco VenterTP 3 Conraad Van Vuuren HK 2 Elandre Huggett LP 1 Ox Nche Replacements: 16Jacques du Toit 17Theunis Nieuwoudt 18Boela Venter 19De Wet Kruger 20Nhlanhla Hlongwane 21JP Coetzee 22Refuoe Rampete 23Dolph Botha Coach: Franco Smith FB 15Rhyno Smith RW 14Dalen GoliathOC 13Rowayne BeukmanIC 12Johan Deysel LW 11Dillon Smit FH 10John Welthagen SH 9 Malherbe Swart N8 8 Jeandre Rudolph (c)OF 7 Marno Redelinghuys BF 6 Armandt LiebenbergRL 5 Walt Steenkamp LL 4 Loftus MorrisonTP 3 John-Roy Jenkinson HK 2 Wian Fourie LP 1 Johan Smith Replacements: 16Wilmar Arnoldi 17Mogau Mabokelah 18Daniel Jordaan 19Molotsi Bouwer 20Johannes Briers 21Marnus Tack 22Kurshwill Williams 23Cayle Denner Coach: Robert Du Preez Player of the Match: Niel Marais

Honours

The honour roll for the 2015 Varsity Cup was as follows:

2015 Varsity Cup Honours Champions: (1st title) Player That Rocks: Rhyno Smith, Forward That Rocks: Jason Klaasen, Back That Rocks: AJ Coertzen, Top Try Scorers: Daniel Maartens, / Gerhard Olivier, (8) Top Points Scorer: Rhyno Smith, (101)

Players

Player statistics

The following table contain points which have been scored in games in the 2015 Varsity Cup season:

All point scorers No Player Team T C P DG Pts 1 Rhyno Smith NWU Pukke 4 23 6 0 101 2 Niel Marais UFS Shimlas 2 25 1 0 87 3 Warren Seals UCT Ikey Tigers 3 22 0 0 81 4 Joshua Stander UP Tuks 1 23 0 0 74 5 Daniel Maartens UFS Shimlas 8 0 0 0 40 Gerhard Olivier UFS Shimlas 8 0 0 0 40 7 Brandon Thomson Maties 0 12 0 0 36 8 Jason Klaasen UCT Ikey Tigers 7 0 0 0 35 9 Dewald Human UP Tuks 1 8 0 0 29 10 Niell Jordaan UFS Shimlas 5 0 0 0 25 Dan Kriel UP Tuks 5 0 0 0 25 Wiaan Liebenberg UP Tuks 5 0 0 0 25 Dillon Smit NWU Pukke 5 0 0 0 25 Dean Stokes NWU Pukke 5 0 0 0 25 15 Jaco Fourie UJ 1 5 2 0 24 16 Duan Pretorius CUT Ixias 2 4 0 0 22 17 Rowayne Beukman NWU Pukke 4 0 0 0 20 Clyde Davids UP Tuks 4 0 0 0 20 Beyers de Villiers Maties 4 0 0 0 20 Johan Deysel NWU Pukke 4 0 0 0 20 Maphutha Dolo UFS Shimlas 4 0 0 0 20 Dalen Goliath NWU Pukke 4 0 0 0 20 Jermaine Kleinsmith UP Tuks 4 0 0 0 20 Kobus Porter UJ 4 0 0 0 20 Jeandré Rudolph NWU Pukke 4 0 0 0 20 Kobus van Dyk Maties 4 0 0 0 20 Lihleli Xoli UCT Ikey Tigers 4 0 0 0 20 28 Ruan Allerston NMMU Madibaz 0 6 0 0 18 Tom Bednall UCT Ikey Tigers 0 6 0 0 18 Steven Hansel NMMU Madibaz 0 6 0 0 18 Ernst Stapelberg Maties 0 6 0 0 18 32 Tythan Adams NMMU Madibaz 3 0 0 0 15 Guy Alexander UCT Ikey Tigers 3 0 0 0 15 Riaan Britz UP Tuks 3 0 0 0 15 Coenraad Fick Maties 3 0 0 0 15 Reniel Hugo UP Tuks 3 0 0 0 15 JT Jackson UP Tuks 3 0 0 0 15 Devon Lailvaux NMMU Madibaz 3 0 0 0 15 Nico Lee UFS Shimlas 3 0 0 0 15 JP Lewis Maties 3 0 0 0 15 Khanyo Ngcukana UCT Ikey Tigers 3 0 0 0 15 42 AJ Coertzen UFS Shimlas 1 3 0 0 14 43 Enrico Acker NMMU Madibaz 2 0 0 0 10 Bjorn Bernardo Maties 2 0 0 0 10 Robert de Bruyn UJ 2 0 0 0 10 Ryan Dugmore UCT Ikey Tigers 2 0 0 0 10 Dean Kouprihanoff CUT Ixias 2 0 0 0 10 Jannes Kirsten UP Tuks 2 0 0 0 10 Vuyani Maqina UFS Shimlas 2 0 0 0 10 Nqoba Mxoli UP Tuks 2 0 0 0 10 Yamkela Ngam NMMU Madibaz 2 0 0 0 10 Andries Oosthuizen UJ 2 0 0 0 10 Tyler Paul NMMU Madibaz 2 0 0 0 10 Marno Redelinghuys NWU Pukke 2 0 0 0 10 Dylan Sage UCT Ikey Tigers 2 0 0 0 10 Guy Schwikkard UCT Ikey Tigers 2 0 0 0 10 Chad Solomon UCT Ikey Tigers 2 0 0 0 10 Brian Skosana NMMU Madibaz 2 0 0 0 10 Ruan Steenkamp UP Tuks 2 0 0 0 10 Luke Stringer UCT Ikey Tigers 2 0 0 0 10 Joe van der Hoogt UFS Shimlas 2 0 0 0 10 Dayan van der Westhuizen UP Tuks 2 0 0 0 10 Conraad van Vuuren UFS Shimlas 2 0 0 0 10 CJ Velleman NMMU Madibaz 2 0 0 0 10 Adrian Vermeulen UJ 2 0 0 0 10 Jaco Visagie UP Tuks 2 0 0 0 10 67 Jamie Campbell UJ 0 3 0 0 9 Nick Holton UCT Ikey Tigers 0 3 0 0 9 69 James Alexander UCT Ikey Tigers 1 0 0 0 5 Craig Barry Maties 1 0 0 0 5 Andrew Beerwinkel UP Tuks 1 0 0 0 5 Anrich Bitzi CUT Ixias 1 0 0 0 5 Renier Botha UFS Shimlas 1 0 0 0 5 Molotsi Bouwer NWU Pukke 1 0 0 0 5 Jarryd Buys NMMU Madibaz 1 0 0 0 5 Paul Cohen UCT Ikey Tigers 1 0 0 0 5 Wian Conradie UJ 1 0 0 0 5 Aphiwe Dyantyi UJ 1 0 0 0 5 Jan Enslin UP Tuks 1 0 0 0 5 Ian Groenewald Maties 1 0 0 0 5 Elandré Huggett UFS Shimlas 1 0 0 0 5 Marco Klopper UFS Shimlas 1 0 0 0 5 Derick Linde Maties 1 0 0 0 5 Duncan Matthews UP Tuks 1 0 0 0 5 John-Hubert Meyer Maties 1 0 0 0 5 Ali Mgijima CUT Ixias 1 0 0 0 5 Lethole Mokoena CUT Ixias 1 0 0 0 5 Bradley Moolman UJ 1 0 0 0 5 Loftus Morrison NWU Pukke 1 0 0 0 5 Michael Muller Maties 1 0 0 0 5 Robin Murray UCT Ikey Tigers 1 0 0 0 5 Ryan Nell UP Tuks 1 0 0 0 5 Teunis Nieuwoudt UFS Shimlas 1 0 0 0 5 Len Noort CUT Ixias 1 0 0 0 5 Andisa Ntsila NMMU Madibaz 1 0 0 0 5 Niel Oelofse Maties 1 0 0 0 5 Mark Prior UCT Ikey Tigers 1 0 0 0 5 Phanta Qinisile UJ 1 0 0 0 5 Fiffy Rampeta UFS Shimlas 1 0 0 0 5 Rudolph Smith UP Tuks 1 0 0 0 5 Paul Streicher Maties 1 0 0 0 5 Malherbe Swart NWU Pukke 1 0 0 0 5 Masego Toolo CUT Ixias 1 0 0 0 5 Jacobus van der Merwe Maties 1 0 0 0 5 Damian van Wyk UP Tuks 1 0 0 0 5 Boela Venter UFS Shimlas 1 0 0 0 5 Warrick Venter NMMU Madibaz 1 0 0 0 5 André Warner UP Tuks 1 0 0 0 5 Johnny Welthagen NWU Pukke 1 0 0 0 5 Arthur Williams UFS Shimlas 1 0 0 0 5 111 Jesse du Toit CUT Ixias 0 1 0 0 3 Warren Gilbert NWU Pukke 0 1 0 0 3 Koos Loubser Maties 0 1 0 0 3 Arrie Vosloo CUT Ixias 0 1 0 0 3 — penalty try NWU Pukke 2 0 0 0 10 UJ 2 0 0 0 10 UCT Ikey Tigers 1 0 0 0 5 UFS Shimlas 1 0 0 0 5

Squad lists

The teams released the following squad lists:

Forwards

Gerard Baard Anrich Bitzi Daneel Botes Fanie Coetzer Jozua de Jager Jean-Claude Fourie Dean Kouprihanoff Boetie Maketlo Victor Maruping Rayno Nel JJ Nell Len Noort Jean Pretorius Dean Rossouw Jeandré Roux Neil Schoombee Ian Smith Frans Sisita Theunis Truter Did not play: Thabo Chirwa Wikus Davis Kyle Ess Deon Gouws Johann Grundlingh Carel Frederick Janse van Vuuren John Lonergan Vincent Maruping Ian van Wyk Jasper Wiese Backs

Luke Cyster Jesse du Toit Christiaan Erasmus Marius Grobler Charlie Hitchcock Henry Immelman Dean Jacobs Ali Mgijima Lethole Mokoena Johannes Nel Duan Pretorius Mosego Toolo Naudé van Biljon Arrie Vosloo Did not play: Heinrich Bitzi Chad de Koker Noël Marx Johan Nel Hanro Pretorius Werner Rembold Makgema Setlaba Clinton Toua Coach

Skillie Bester

Forwards

Wesley Adonis Justin Benn Lungelo Chonco Craig Corbett AJ de Klerk Beyers de Villiers Coenraad Fick Neethling Gericke Migael Grobler Ian Groenewald Marko Janse van Rensburg Derick Linde John-Hubert Meyer Devon Nash Niel Oelofse Grant Prior Wilhelm van der Sluys Jacobus van der Merwe Kobus van Dyk Janco Venter Did not play: Human Carstens Gareth Theunis de Bruin Jacobus de Kock Johan Roual de Villiers Andreas Rufus Dercksen