The 2026 Varsity Cup was the 19th season of the Varsity Cup, the premier competition in the annual Varsity Rugby series in South Africa for men's rugby union. The tournament took place between eight university teams and played between 16 February and 13 April 2026. were crowned champions, securing a record sixth Varsity Cup title, the most by any team in the competition's history.
This competition forms part of the broader Varsity Rugby programme administered by Varsity Sport, which aims to promote university rugby and provide a pathway for emerging talent into professional rugby structures. Matches were broadcast nationally on SuperSport.
The entered the 2026 season as the former winners of the Varsity Cup Trophy after beating Maties in the 2025 final. The 2026 edition was staged under the campaign theme "Who's NXT?", highlighting Varsity Cup's role as a launchpad for future professional and international players and introducing the new Tap-or-Kick post-try power play law to further encourage attacking rugby. Matches were broadcast nationally on SuperSport.
Competition rules and information
Eight university teams participated in the 2026 Varsity Cup. During the pool stage, each team played the other seven sides once, either home or away.
Teams were awarded: four points for a win two points for a draw one bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match one bonus point for losing by seven points or fewer
Teams were ranked primarily by log points, and then by points difference (points scored minus points conceded).
The top four teams at the conclusion of the pool stage advanced to the semi-finals. The two highest-ranked teams hosted the semi-finals, and the highest-ranked remaining finalist hosted the final.
Teams
Location of teams in the 2026 Varsity Cup Western Cape
The teams that played in the 2026 Varsity Cup were:
2026 Varsity Cup teams Team name University Stadium North-West University Stellenbosch University University of the Free State University of Cape Town Emeris Varsity College University of KwaZulu Natal University of Johannesburg Central University of Technology University of Pretoria
Team records TeamChampionsRunners-upThird/Fourth to knockoutsRelegations6 (2012, 2013, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2026)2 (2011, 2019)5 (2008, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2025)13 1 (2023)5 (2008, 2009, 2010, 2018, 2019)6 (2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2025)5 (2014, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2026)163 (2011, 2014, 2025)5 (2008, 2010, 2021, 2023, 2024)3 (2009, 2015, 2022)112 (2016, 2023)5 (2009, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2026)6 (2008, 2010, 2012, 2019, 2024)132 (2015, 2024)7 (2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2026)97 (2010, 2011, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2025)72 (2013, 2014)2 1 (2018) 1 (2018)1 2 (2014, 2025) 1 (2024) 1 (2026) 1 (2012)Emeris
Standings
2026 Varsity Cup Log The final log for the 2026 Varsity Cup was:
2026 Varsity Cup log Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB BP Pts 1 7 6 0 1 287 154 133 43 21 7 0 7 31 2 7 5 0 2 308 228 80 46 34 6 2 8 28 3 7 5 0 2 252 178 74 41 20 6 0 6 26 4 7 4 0 3 223 277 -54 32 40 5 0 5 21 5 7 3 0 4 317 240 77 41 37 5 2 7 19 6 7 3 0 4 250 244 6 39 32 3 1 4 16 7 Emeris 7 2 0 5 153 254 -101 30 44 4 1 5 13 8 7 0 0 7 148 358 -194 25 60 3 1 4 4 *Legend: Pos = Position, Pl = Played, W = Won, D = Drawn, L = 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 pointsPoints 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 matchQualification:
Round-by-round
Team Progression – 2026 Varsity Cup Team R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 Semi Final 0 (8th) 5 (4th) 10 (4th) 15 (3rd) 15 (5th) 17 (5th) 19 (5th) 1 (5th) 6 (3rd) 6 (6th) 11 (5th) 16 (3rd) 21 (3rd) 26 (3rd) Lost 5 (4th) 5 (6th) 10 (3rd) 11 (4th) 11 (6th) 16 (6th) 16 (6th) 5 (3rd) 10 (2nd) 15 (1st) 20 (1st) 21 (2nd) 26 (1st) 31 (1st) Won Won 5 (1st) 5 (5th) 10 (5th) 11 (6th) 16 (4th) 21 (4th) 21 (4th) Lost 1 (7th) 2 (7th) 2 (7th) 2 (7th) 4 (8th) 4 (8th) 4 (8th) 5 (2nd) 10 (1st) 12 (2nd) 17 (2nd) 22 (1st) 23 (2nd) 28 (2nd) Won Lost Emeris 1 (6th) 1 (8th) 1 (8th) 1 (8th) 6 (7th) 8 (7th) 13 (7th) The table above shows a team's progression throughout the season.For each round, their cumulative points total is shown with the overall log position in brackets.Key: win draw loss
Pool stage
Results
The following matches were played in the 2026 Varsity Cup:
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Play-offs
Semi-finals
Final
FB 15Hopewell NtshangaseRW 14Andile MyeniOC 13Christiaan VlokIC 12Kobus Janse Van RensburgLW 11Muashe DukudwaFH 10Divan du ToitSH 9 Akha MjawuleN8 8 Dillon Smith (c)OF 7 Oelof de MeyerBF 6 Abel PretoriusRL 5 Duncan BlignautLL 4 David EngongoTP 3 Jayd AustinHK 2 Jean FourieLP 1 Buhle MphakaReplacements: 16Gustav van der Merwe 17Randy Muzungu 18Barnard Nortje 19Jacques Oberholzer 20Guvandre Moses 21Ignatius Jatjies 22Dennis Obi 23Van Reenen KrugerCoach: Dewey SwartbooiFB 15 Luan van der WaltRW 14 Luyolo DoyiOC 13 Matthew FortuinIC 12 Leejay PetersonLW 11 Logan JanekeFH 10 MJ MostertSH 9 Zack SerfonteinN8 8 Sean RoulstonOF 7 Guhan du BiosBF 6 Ricardo FourieRL 5 Rianiel TurnerLL 4 Stephan Krugel (c)TP 3 Jason OosthuizenHK 2 Jordan McLoughlinLP 1 Aletha ButheleziReplacements: 16 Hanro Venter 17 Bradley Stanfliet 18 Jaco du Toit 19 Zihan Bensch 20 Schalk du Plessis 21 Gary Otto 22 Angelo Daniels 23 Jamiane DampiesCoach: Burger van Westhuizen Player of the Match: Andile Myeni,
Assistant referees: Paul Mente (South Africa), Jonathan Lottering (South Africa) Television match official: Jaco Pretorius (South Africa),Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)
Promotion and relegation At the end of the Varsity Cup season, a promotion–relegation system determined the movement between the Varsity Cup and the Varsity Shield. The team that finished last in the Varsity Cup standings is automatically relegated to the Varsity Shield for the following season.
The winner of the Varsity Shield is automatically promoted to the Varsity Cup. In addition, the second-last placed Varsity Cup which was Emeris played a promotion–relegation playoff match against the Varsity Shield runner-up which was , with the winner earning a place in next season's Varsity Cup. Emeris came out on top and retained their place in the Varsity Cup for 2027.
Statistics * Correct as at the end of regular season - 31 March 2026 (Round 7)
Points leaders Rank Player University Points 1 Alex Vermeulen 82 2 Jack Benade 51 3 Divan Du Toit 48 4 Christiaan Van Heerden Smith 45 5 Edward Sigauke Emeris 44 6 Jacobus Bezuidenhout 40 7 MJ Mostert 36 T8 Erich Visser 35 T8 Jean Fourie 35 T8 CJ Erasmus 35
Tries leaders Rank Player University Tries 1 Jack Benade 9 T2 Jacobus Bezuidenhout 8 T2 Edward Sigauke Emeris 8 T4 CJ Erasmus 7 T4 Erich Visser 7 T4 Jean Fourie 7 T7 Ricardo Fourie 6 T7 Therlow Prins 6 T7 Andile Myeni 6 T7 Jordan Mcloughlin 6
Conversion leaders Rank Player University Cons 1 Alex Vermeulen 32 2Divan Du Toit 18 T3MJ Mostert 13 T3Christiaan Van Heerden Smith 13 5 Ruan Van Willing 12 T6 Bradley Pierre Giddy 9 T6 JT Kapank 9 8 Frederick Marx Emeris 8 T9 Nicallen Gabrielsen 6 T9 Kehan Myburgh 6
Penalty leaders Rank Player University Pens 1Kehan Myburgh 5 2Divan Du Toit 4 3 JT Kapank 3 T4 Bradley Pierre Giddy 2 T4 Nicallen Gabrielsen 2 T4 Alex Vermeulen 2 T4 Ruan Van Willing 2 T4 Christiaan Van Heerden Smith 2 T9 Shaun Ray 1 T9 Frederick Marx Emeris 1
Honours
The honour roll for the 2026 Varsity Cup was as follows:
2026 Varsity Cup Honours Champions: (6th title) Player That Rocks: Thabang Mphafi, Forward That Rocks: Ricardo Fourie, Back That Rocks: Matthew Fortuin, Rookie of the year: Chijindu Okonta, Emeris Top Try Scorer: Jack Benade (9 tries), Top Points Scorer: Alex Vermeulen (82 points),
Young Guns 2026 Young Guns Log The final log for the 2026 Young Guns was:
Group A Teams Pos Team P W D L TS PD BP PTS 1 6 6 0 0 32 91 6 30 2 6 4 0 2 29 39 5 21 3 Emeris Young Guns 6 2 0 4 30 -34 4 12 4 6 0 0 6 26 -96 6 6
Group B Teams Pos Team P W D L TS PD BP PTS 1 6 4 0 2 38 149 8 24 2 6 4 0 2 29 -8 6 22 3 6 4 0 2 28 -2 5 21 4 6 0 0 6 18 -139 5 5 *Legend: Pos = Position, Pl = Played, W = Won, D = Drawn, L = 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 pointsPoints 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 matchQualification:
Results
The following matches were played in the 2026 Young Guns Varsity Cup tournament:
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Play-offs The playoffs for the 2026 Young Guns Varsity Tournament was as follows:
Semi finals
Finals
References