Varsity Cup Round 1 Review – Explosive Starts and Eye-catching Stats 2026

The opening round of the 2026 Varsity Cup delivered a try-fest of high-scoring encounters.

Tuks defeat UCT at home 2026 Varsity Cup!

In Pretoria, UP Tuks stunned defending champions UCT Ikeys 38–22 with two early tries by Andile Myeni (the match-winner) and a late score by Hopewell Ntshangase. At Bloemfontein’s Shimla Park, UFS Shimlas outgunned Maties 50–39, featuring two historic “Tap” powerplay tries by Maties’ CJ Marx and Zuko Poswa and a Player of the Match performance by Liam Shamburg. In Joburg, UJ ran rampant, beating promoted newcomers Emeris 61–41, led by Nicallen Gabrielsen’s try, 3 conversions and a penalty. Finally at CUT Stadium, NWU Eagles overturned a 14-point halftime deficit to defeat CUT Ixias 59–42; winger Therlow Prins stole the show with a hat-trick in that comeback.

These games produced 372 total points and 49 tries across four fixtures, underscoring the new “Tap or Kick” rule’s impact on attacking play.

Varsity Cup Round 1 Points Leaders 2026:

Rank	Player	University	Points
1	Bradley Pierre Giddy	UFS Shimlas	14
2	Nicallen Gabrielsen	UJ	14
3	Kehan Myburgh	CUT Ixias	13
T4	Andile Myeni	UP Tuks	10
T4	Chijindu Okota	Emeris	10
T4	Jacobus Bezuidenhout	UFS Shimlas	10
T4	Jacques Marais	Emeris	10
T4	Josh Du Toit	UJ	10
T4	Juan Orde Steyl	Emeris	10
T4	Kutlo Seyoko	CUT Ixias	10
T4	MJ Mostert	NWU Eagles	10
T4	Therlow Prins	NWU Eagles	10
13	Christiaan Van Heerden Smith	Maties	7
T14	Abel Pretorius	UP Tuks	5
T14	Aidan Norris	UCT Ikey Tigers	5
T14	Aiden De Villiers	NWU Eagles	5
T14	Armand Combrinck	Maties	5
T14	CJ Erasmus	Maties	5
T14	CJ Marx	Maties	5
T14	Dillon Smith	UP Tuks	5
T14	Edward Sigauke	Emeris	5
T14	Emlyhn Jacobs	CUT Ixias	5
T14	Fortune Mpofu	Maties	5
T14	Guhan Du Bois	NWU Eagles	5
T14	Hanro Venter	NWU Eagles	5
T14	Hopewell Ntshangase	UP Tuks	5
T14	Jack Benade	UCT Ikey Tigers	5
T14	Jade Muller	CUT Ixias	5
T14	Jordan Mcloughlin	NWU Eagles	5
T14	Kamo Molefe	UJ	5
31	Kirwin Du Preez	UFS Shimlas	5
T14	Kobus Janse Van Rensburg	UP Tuks	5
T14	Lezane Davis	UCT Ikey Tigers	5
T14	Liam Shamburg	UFS Shimlas	5
35	Luyolo Doyi	NWU Eagles	5
T14	Maynard Kleynhans	UFS Shimlas	5
T14	Raniel Turner	NWU Eagles	5
T14	Raydon Swartbooi	CUT Ixias	5
T14	Reuven Ferreira	UJ	5
T14	Ryan Marimo	UJ	5
T14	Rynhardt Van Der Linden	Maties	5
T14	Stephan Krugel	NWU Eagles	5
T14	Thabang Mphafi	UJ	5
T14	Tholithemba Sibisi	UJ	5
T14	Ughan Africa	UJ	5
T14	Wynand Botha	UFS Shimlas	5
T14	Zuko Poswa	Maties	5
T48	Divan Du Toit	UP Tuks	4
T48	Frederick Marx	Emeris	4
T50	Alex Vermeulen	UCT Ikey Tigers	3
T50	JT Kapank	UJ	3
52	Ruan Van Willing	NWU Eagles	2

Varsity Cup Round 1 Tries Leaders 2026:

Player	University	Tries
Andile Myeni	UP Tuks	2
Chijindu Okota	Emeris	2
Jacobus Bezuidenhout	UFS Shimlas	2
Jacques Marais	Emeris	2
Josh Du Toit	UJ	2
Juan Orde Steyl	Emeris	2
Kutlo Seyoko	CUT Ixias	2
Therlow Prins	NWU Eagles	2
Abel Pretorius	UP Tuks	1
Aidan Norris	UCT Ikey Tigers	1
Aiden De Villiers	NWU Eagles	1
Armand Combrinck	Maties	1
CJ Erasmus	Maties	1
CJ Marx	Maties	1
Christiaan Van Heerden Smith	Maties	1
Dillon Smith	UP Tuks	1
Edward Sigauke	Emeris	1
Emlyhn Jacobs	CUT Ixias	1
Fortune Mpofu	Maties	1
Guhan Du Bois	NWU Eagles	1
Hanro Venter	NWU Eagles	1
Hopewell Ntshangase	UP Tuks	1
Jack Benade	UCT Ikey Tigers	1
Jade Muller	CUT Ixias	1
Jordan Mcloughlin	NWU Eagles	1
Kamo Molefe	UJ	1
Kirwin Du Preez	UFS Shimlas	1
Kobus Janse Van Rensburg	UP Tuks	1
Lezane Davis	UCT Ikey Tigers	1
Liam Shamburg	UFS Shimlas	1
Luyolo Doyi	NWU Eagles	1
Maynard Kleynhans	UFS Shimlas	1
Nicallen Gabrielsen	UJ	1
Raniel Turner	NWU Eagles	1
Raydon Swartbooi	CUT Ixias	1
Reuven Ferreira	UJ	1
Ryan Marimo	UJ	1
Rynhardt Van Der Linden	Maties	1
Stephan Krugel	NWU Eagles	1
Thabang Mphafi	UJ	1
Tholithemba Sibisi	UJ	1
Ughan Africa	UJ	1
Wynand Botha	UFS Shimlas	1
Zuko Poswa	Maties	1

Varsity Cup Round 1 Conversions Leaders 2026:

Rank	Player	University	Cons
1	MJ Mostert	NWU Eagles	5
2	Bradley Pierre Giddy	UFS Shimlas	4
3	Nicallen Gabrielsen	UJ	3
T4	Divan Du Toit	UP Tuks	2
T4	Frederick Marx	Emeris	2
T4	Kehan Myburgh	CUT Ixias	2
T7	Christiaan Van Heerden Smith	Maties	1
T7	Ruan Van Willing	NWU Eagles	1

Varsity Cup Round 1 Penalty Leaders 2026:

Rank	Player	University	Pens
1	Kehan Myburgh	CUT Ixias	5
2	Bradley Pierre Giddy	UFS Shimlas	4
T3	Alex Vermeulen	UCT Ikey Tigers	1
T3	Nicallen Gabrielsen	UJ	1
T3	JT Kapank	UJ	1

The biggest surprise was Tuks’ victory over UCT Ikeys – a statement that the defending champs aren’t invincible. The sheer number of points (372, average 47 per game) suggests a trend toward more open, attacking play under the new rules.

UJ dominate Varsity College 2026 Varsity Cup!

All teams showed flashes: Emeris proved they can score, CUT has promise in close contests, Maties’ high score in defeat shows their firepower, and NWU’s champions pedigree means comebacks like they showed are no fluke.

Looking forward, the Round 1 results and statistics paint a picture of an unpredictable, high-octane tournament. Rugby fans will keep an eye on the top scorers (Giddy, Gabrielsen, Myeni, Prins, etc.) as these players are already distinguishing themselves. Each match was rich in tries and drama (from the first-ever powerplay touchdowns to last-minute seals), setting up a thrilling competition ahead.