2018 Varsity Rugby was the 2018 edition of four rugby union competitions annually played between several university teams in South Africa. It was contested from 29 January to 16 April 2018 and was the eleventh edition of these competitions.

2018 Varsity Rugby
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Varsity Cup edit

The following teams competed in the 2018 Varsity Cup: CUT Ixias, Maties, NMMU Madibaz, NWU Pukke, UCT Ikey Tigers, UFS Shimlas, UJ, UP Tuks and Wits. All these teams also played in the competition in 2017. The competition was won by Maties, who beat NWU Pukke 40–7 in the final. NMU Madibaz finished bottom of the log and were relegated to the 2019 Varsity Shield. CUT Ixias remained in the Varsity Cup for 2019 after beating the WSU All Blacks in a relegation play-off.

Varsity Shield edit

The following teams competed in the 2018 Varsity Shield: CPUT, Rhodes, TUT Vikings, UFH Blues, UKZN Impi, UWC and WSU All Blacks. All these teams also played in the competition in 2017. The competition was won by UWC, who beat WSU All Blacks 55–10 in the final. UWC were promoted to the 2019 Varsity Cup for the first time, while the WSU All Blacks remained in the Varsity Shield for 2019 after losing to CUT Ixias in a promotion play-off.

Promotion/relegation play-offs edit

2019 Varsity Cup play-off edit

There was a promotion/relegation match between CUT Ixias, who finished eighth in the 2018 Varsity Cup and the WSU All Blacks, who finished runners-up in the 2018 Varsity Shield. CUT Ixias won 37–31 to retain their place in the Varsity Cup for 2019, while the WSU All Blacks remained in the Varsity Shield competition.


16 April 2018 CUT Ixias 37–31 WSU All Blacks Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch  
Report[1] Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys

2019 Varsity Shield play-off edit

There was a promotion/relegation match between Rhodes, who finished seventh in the 2018 Varsity Shield and the University of Zululand, as the best-performing non-Varsity Rugby team at the USSA tournament.[2] Rhodes won 44–5 to retain their place in the Varsity Shield for 2019.


20 August 2018 Rhodes 44–5 University of Zululand Rhodes Great Field, Grahamstown  
Report[3]

Young Guns edit

Competition rules edit

There were nine participating universities in the 2018 Young Guns competition, the Under-20 sides of each of the nine Varsity Cup teams. These teams were divided into three regionalised sections and each team played every team in their section twice over the course of the season, once at home and once 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 eight points or less. Teams were ranked by log points, then points difference (points scored less points conceded).

The three section winners qualified for the semi-finals, along with the runner-up with the best record.

Teams edit

2018 Young Guns North teams
Team University Stadium
UJ Young Guns University of Johannesburg UJ Stadium, Johannesburg
UP Tuks Young Guns University of Pretoria LC de Villiers Stadium, Pretoria
Wits Young Guns University of the Witwatersrand Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg
2018 Young Guns Central teams
Team University Stadium
CUT Young Guns Central Institute of Technology CUT Stadium, Bloemfontein
NWU Pukke Young Guns North-West University Fanie du Toit Sport Ground, Potchefstroom
UFS Shimlas Young Guns University of the Free State Shimla Park, Bloemfontein
2018 Young Guns South teams
Team University Stadium
Maties Juniors Stellenbosch University Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
NMMU Young Guns Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University NMU Stadium, Port Elizabeth
UCT Trojans University of Cape Town UCT Rugby Fields, Cape Town

Young Guns North edit

Log edit

The final standings for the 2018 Varsity Cup Young Guns North were:

2018 Varsity Cup Young Guns North log
Pos Team Pl W D L PF PA PD BP Pts
1 UP Tuks Young Guns 4 4 0 0 318 49 +269 4 17
2 UJ Young Guns 4 2 0 2 70 193 −123 1 9
3 Wits Young Guns 4 0 0 4 57 203 −146 3 5

Matches edit

The following matches were played in the 2018 Varsity Cup Young Guns North:


5 February 2018 Wits Young Guns 8–84 UP Tuks Young Guns Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg  
15:00 Scoreboard[4]


26 February 2018 UJ Young Guns 13–65 UP Tuks Young Guns UJ Stadium, Johannesburg  
16:45 Scoreboard[5]


5 March 2018 UJ Young Guns 13–5 Wits Young Guns UJ Stadium, Johannesburg  
14:30 Scoreboard[6]


12 March 2018 Wits Young Guns 28–32 UJ Young Guns Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg  
14:15 Scoreboard[7]


19 March 2018 UP Tuks Young Guns 95–12 UJ Young Guns LC de Villiers Stadium, Pretoria  
15:00 Scoreboard[8]


26 March 2018 UP Tuks Young Guns 74–16 Wits Young Guns LC de Villiers Stadium, Pretoria  
16:30 Scoreboard[9]

Young Guns Central edit

Log edit

The final standings for the 2018 Varsity Cup Young Guns Central were:

2018 Varsity Cup Young Guns Central log
Pos Team Pl W D L PF PA PD BP Pts
1 UFS Shimlas Young Guns 4 4 0 0 262 126 +136 4 20
2 NWU Pukke Young Guns 4 2 0 2 227 162 +65 4 12
3 CUT Young Guns 4 0 0 4 109 310 −201 2 2

Matches edit

The following matches were played in the 2018 Varsity Cup Young Guns Central:


12 February 2018 UFS Shimlas Young Guns 47–37 NWU Pukke Young Guns Shimla Park, Bloemfontein  
16:00 Scoreboard[10]


26 February 2018 UFS Shimlas Young Guns 102–21 CUT Young Guns Shimla Park, Bloemfontein  
15:00 Scoreboard[11]


5 March 2018 CUT Young Guns 39–61 NWU Pukke Young Guns CUT Stadium, Bloemfontein  
16:15 Scoreboard[12]


12 March 2018 NWU Pukke Young Guns 40–55 UFS Shimlas Young Guns Fanie du Toit Sport Ground, Potchefstroom  
15:00 Scoreboard[13]


19 March 2018 CUT Young Guns 28–58 UFS Shimlas Young Guns CUT Stadium, Bloemfontein  
14:15 Scoreboard[14]


26 March 2018 NWU Pukke Young Guns 89–21 CUT Young Guns Fanie du Toit Sport Ground, Potchefstroom  
15:00 Scoreboard[15]

Young Guns South edit

Log edit

The final standings for the 2018 Varsity Cup Young Guns South were:

2018 Varsity Cup Young Guns South log
Pos Team Pl W D L PF PA PD BP Pts
1 Maties Juniors 4 4 0 0 207 66 +141 4 20
2 UCT Trojans 4 2 0 2 73 113 −40 1 9
3 NMMU Young Guns 4 0 0 4 73 174 −101 2 2

Matches edit

The following matches were played in the 2018 Varsity Cup Young Guns South:


5 February 2018 NMMU Young Guns 13–15 UCT Trojans NMU Stadium, Port Elizabeth  
14:15 Scoreboard[16]


12 February 2018 Maties Juniors 65–22 NMMU Young Guns Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch  
15:00 Scoreboard[17]


19 February 2018 UCT Trojans 8–32 Maties Juniors UCT Rugby Fields, Cape Town  
16:00 Scoreboard[18]


26 February 2018 UCT Trojans 29–23 NMMU Young Guns UCT Rugby Fields, Cape Town  
16:00 Scoreboard[19]


5 March 2018 Maties Juniors 45–21 UCT Trojans Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch  
15:00 Scoreboard[20]


12 March 2018 NMMU Young Guns 15–65 Maties Juniors NMU Stadium, Port Elizabeth  
16:00 Scoreboard[21]

Semi-finals edit

2 April 2018 UFS Shimlas Young Guns 0–74 UP Tuks Young Guns Shimla Park, Bloemfontein  
15:00 Scoreboard[22]


2 April 2018 Maties Juniors 74–42 NWU Pukke Young Guns Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch  
15:00 Scoreboard[23]

Final edit

9 April 2018 Maties Juniors 45–37 UP Tuks Young Guns UWC Sport Stadium, Cape Town  
16:45 Scoreboard[24]

Res Rugby edit

Competition rules edit

There were nine participating teams in the 2018 Res Rugby competition — the new name for the competition formerly known as the Koshuis Rugby Championship[25] — the winners of the internal leagues of each of the nine Varsity Cup teams. These teams were divided into two divisions (a Championship division with five teams and a Premiership division with four teams) and each team played every team in their division once over the course of the season, either at 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 eight points or less. Teams were ranked by log points, then points difference (points scored less points conceded).

The top two teams in the Championship qualified for the final.

Teams edit

2018 Res Rugby Championship teams
Team University Stadium
Huis Marais (Maties) Stellenbosch University Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Lions (CUT) Central Institute of Technology CUT Stadium, Bloemfontein
Maroela (Tuks) University of Pretoria LC de Villiers Stadium, Pretoria
Patria (Pukke) North-West University Fanie du Toit Sport Ground, Potchefstroom
Vishuis (Shimlas) University of the Free State Shimla Park, Bloemfontein
2018 Res Rugby Premiership teams
Team University Stadium
Cobras (UCT) University of Cape Town UCT Rugby Fields, Cape Town
Harlequins (Madibaz) Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University NMU Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Junction (Wits) University of the Witwatersrand Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg
Oppierif (UJ) University of Johannesburg UJ Stadium, Johannesburg

Championship edit

Log edit

The final standings for the 2018 Res Rugby Championship were:

2018 Res Rugby Championship log
Pos Team Pl W D L PF PA PD BP Pts
1 Patria (Pukke) 4 4 0 0 131 73 +58 3 19
2 Vishuis (Shimlas) 4 3 0 1 143 45 +98 3 15
3 Maroela (Tuks) 4 2 0 2 84 104 −20 3 11
4 Huis Marais (Maties) 4 1 0 3 86 110 −24 3 7
5 Lions (CUT) 4 0 0 4 59 171 −112 1 1
  • Patria (Pukke) and Vishuis (Shimlas) qualified for the final.

Matches edit

The following matches were played in the 2018 Res Rugby Championship:


12 February 2018 Lions (CUT) 0–42 Vishuis (Shimlas) CUT Stadium, Bloemfontein  


12 February 2018 Huis Marais (Maties) 7–13 Maroela (Tuks) Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch  


19 February 2018 Patria (Pukke) 50–15 Lions (CUT) Fanie du Toit Sport Ground, Potchefstroom  


26 February 2018 Vishuis (Shimlas) 48–21 Huis Marais (Maties) Shimla Park, Bloemfontein  


5 March 2018 Maroela (Tuks) 29–34 Patria (Pukke) LC de Villiers Stadium, Pretoria  


5 March 2018 Huis Marais (Maties) 37–26 Lions (CUT) Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch  


12 March 2018 Patria (Pukke) 24–8 Vishuis (Shimlas) Fanie du Toit Sport Ground, Potchefstroom  


19 March 2018 Maroela (Tuks) 42–18 Lions (CUT) LC de Villiers Stadium, Pretoria  


26 March 2018 Vishuis (Shimlas) 45–0 Maroela (Tuks) Shimla Park, Bloemfontein  


26 March 2018 Patria (Pukke) 23–21 Huis Marais (Maties) Fanie du Toit Sport Ground, Potchefstroom  

Final edit

16 April 2018 Patria (Pukke) 29–55 Vishuis (Shimlas) Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch  

Premiership edit

Log edit

The final standings for the 2018 Res Rugby Premiership were:

2018 Res Rugby Premiership log
Pos Team Pl W D L PF PA PD BP Pts
1 Oppierif (UJ) 3 3 0 0 141 24 +117 3 15
2 Cobras (UCT) 3 2 0 1 74 59 +15 2 10
3 Harlequins (Madibaz) 3 1 0 2 36 71 −35 0 4
4 Junction (Wits) 3 0 0 3 20 117 −97 0 0

Matches edit

The following matches were played in the 2018 Res Rugby Championship:


12 February 2018 Cobras (UCT) 29–0 Harlequins (Madibaz) UCT Rugby Fields, Cape Town  


19 February 2018 Harlequins (Madibaz) 28–8 Junction (Wits) NMU Stadium, Port Elizabeth  


26 February 2018 Junction (Wits) 12–29 Cobras (UCT) Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg  


5 March 2018 Oppierif (UJ) 34–8 Harlequins (Madibaz) UJ Stadium, Johannesburg  


12 March 2018 Junction (Wits) 0–60 Oppierif (UJ) Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg  


26 March 2018 Oppierif (UJ) 47–16 Cobras (UCT) UJ Stadium, Johannesburg  

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "CUT hang on to Varsity Cup status with last gasp win over WSU". IOL Sport. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  2. ^ "UNIZULU rugby team sets record at USSAs". The Mercury. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  3. ^ "Rhodes duck Varsity Shield relegation". Grocott's Mail. 22 August 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  4. ^ "Young Guns - Match 2, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 5 February 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  5. ^ "Young Guns - Match 8, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  6. ^ "Young Guns - Match 10, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 5 March 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  7. ^ "Young Guns - Match 12, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  8. ^ "Young Guns - Match 16, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  9. ^ "Young Guns - Match 18, Log". South African Rugby Union. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  10. ^ "Young Guns - Match 4, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 12 February 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  11. ^ "Young Guns - Match 6, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  12. ^ "Young Guns - Match 11, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 5 March 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  13. ^ "Young Guns - Match 13, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  14. ^ "Young Guns - Match 15, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  15. ^ "Young Guns - Match 17, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  16. ^ "Young Guns - Match 1, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 5 February 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  17. ^ "Young Guns - Match 3, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 12 February 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  18. ^ "Young Guns - Match 5, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  19. ^ "Young Guns - Match 7, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  20. ^ "Young Guns - Match 9, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 5 March 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  21. ^ "Young Guns - Match 14, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  22. ^ "Young Guns - Match 19, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 2 April 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  23. ^ "Young Guns - Match 20, Pool Stage". South African Rugby Union. 2 April 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  24. ^ "Young Guns - Match 21, Final". South African Rugby Union. 9 April 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  25. ^ "Varsity Cup tournament enters its second decade". Pretoria East Rekord. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.

External links edit