Varsity Netball is a netball league featuring teams representing universities in South Africa. It was formed in 2013. UFS Kovsies were the inaugural winners and they remain the league's most successful team. It is one of several similar sports competitions that form the Varsity Sports series. Others include leagues for men's football, women's football, field hockey, men's rugby union, and women's rugby union.
History UFS Kovsies In 2013, UFS Kovsies won the inaugural tournament. With a team captained by Maryka Holtzhausen, they defeated NWU-Pukke 44–40 in the final. They won further titles in 2014, 2018, and 2021. In 2024, UFS Kovsies won their fifth title, after defeating UJ Netball 58–55 in the final.
UFS Kovsies are closely associated with Free State Crinums of the Telkom Netball League. In 2018, 2019 and 2020, Crinums were a de facto Kovsie team. The vast majority of their squad members, including Lefébre Rademan and Khanyisa Chawane, were University of the Free State students. Crinums head coach, Burta de Kock, was also the head coach of Kovsies.
NWU-Pukke In 2015 and 2016, with teams featuring Sigrid Burger, Renske Stoltz and Jeanté Strydom, NWU-Pukke won two successive titles. In 2015, after finishing the regular season in fourth place, they eliminated two-time defending champions, UFS Kovsies, in semi-final before going onto defeat Maties 50–37 in the final. In 2016 they retained the title following a narrow 56–55 win over UP-Tuks.
UP-Tuks In 2017, after finishing as runners-up in 2014 and 2016, UP-Tuks and won their first title. Their winning team was coached by Jenny van Dyk, captained by Shadine van der Merwe and featured Marlize de Bruin and Ine-Marí Venter. In the final, they defeated NWU-Pukke 43–41. In 2019, UP-Tuks won their second title, this time defeating Maties 48–43 in the final. In 2023, UP-Tuks won their third title after defeating UJ Netball 63–61 in the final.
UP-Tuks are closely associated with Gauteng Jaguars. Since 2017, Jaguars have been winning Premier Netball League titles. The core of their team is made up of UP-Tuks players. Jenny van Dyk, served as head coach of both UP-Tuks and Jaguars.
Teams
Team University Home venue TNL partner UFS Kovsies NetballUniversity of the Free StateCallie Human HallFree State CrinumsUJ NetballUniversity of Johannesburg Gauteng Golden FireballsMadibaz NetballNelson Mandela UniversityMadibaz Sports CentreEastern Cape AloesNWU Netball PukkeNorth-West UniversityNWU Mafikeng Great HallNorth West FlamesUP-Tuks NetballUniversity of PretoriaRembrandt HallGauteng JaguarsMaties NetballStellenbosch UniversityCoetzenburg Indoor ArenaTUT NetballTshwane University of Technology Wits NetballUniversity of the WitwatersrandWits Sports Hall
Finals Season Winners Score Runners up Venue2013UFS Kovsies44–40NWU-PukkePotchefstroom2014UFS Kovsies49–42UP-TuksRembrandt Hall2015NWU-Pukke50–37MatiesCoetzenburg Indoor Arena2016NWU-Pukke56–55UP-TuksRembrandt Hall2017UP-Tuks43–41NWU-PukkeRembrandt Hall2018UFS Kovsies63–59UP-TuksBloemfontein2019UP-Tuks48–43MatiesRembrandt Hall2020 2021UFS Kovsies55–39MatiesCoetzenburg Indoor Arena2022Maties68–55NWU-PukkeCoetzenburg Indoor Arena2023UP-Tuks63–61UJ NetballRembrandt Hall2024UFS Kovsies58–55UJ NetballCallie Human Hall 2025NWU-Pukke57–49UFS KovsiesCallie Human Hall
Notes Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa.
Notable players Winning captains Season Team Captains 2013UFS KovsiesMaryka Holtzhausen2014UFS KovsiesKarla Mostert2015 2016NWU-PukkeChante Bester2017UP-TuksShadine van der Merwe2018UFS KovsiesAlicia Puren2019UP-TuksTshina Mdau2021UFS KovsiesSikholiwe Mdletshe2022MatiesSian Moore 2023UP-TuksKamogelo Maseka2024UFS KovsiesRefiloe Nketsa2025NWU Pukke Martine Jordaan
Player of the Tournament Season Team Winners 2013UFS KovsiesAné Botha2014UFS KovsiesKarla Mostert2015UFS KovsiesKarla Mostert2016UP-TuksShadine van der Merwe2017UFS KovsiesKhomotso Mamburu2018UFS KovsiesKhanyisa Chawane2019UFS KovsiesLefébre Rademan2021MatiesNicholé Taljaard 2022NWU-PukkeElmeré van den Berg 2023NWU-PukkeSanmarie Visser2024UFS KovsiesRolene Streutker2025UFS Kovsies Reratilwe Letsoalo
Internationals
Sigrid Burger Khanyisa Chawane Vanes-Mari du Toit Maryka Holtzhausen Shadine van der Merwe Lenize Potgieter Karla Pretorius Lefébre Rademan Renske Stoltz Jeanté Strydom Nicholé Taljaard Ine-Marí Venter Rolene Streutker
References
External links Varsity Netball on Instagram