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Varsity Cup kicks off: UFS ready to shine

13 February 2025 | Story Onthatile Tikoe | Photo Supplied

Shimlas 2024 — The UFS Shimlas lifting the Varsity Cup on their home ground in Bloemfontein after their 2024 victory.

The highly anticipated Varsity Cup is finally here, and the University of the Free State (UFS) is buzzing with excitement! The tournament, which features the top university rugby teams in South Africa, promises to deliver thrilling matches and intense rivalries throughout the rugby season.

After an exhilarating 2024 season, the UFS Shimlas made history by lifting the Varsity Cup trophy on their home ground in Bloemfontein. The team’s impressive performance and dedication earned them a spot in the record books, and they are eager to repeat their success in 2025.

This year’s competition is scheduled to kick off on 17 February 2025 and will run for 7 weeks, with the UFS final game on 31 March 2025. The UFS Shimlas will be looking to defend their title and bring home the coveted trophy once again.

Previous winners

The Varsity Cup has a rich history, with previous winners including:

• UFS Shimlas (2015, 2024)

• Maties (Stellenbosch University, 2008-2010, 2019)

• Tuks (University of Pretoria, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2021, 2022)

• UCT Ikey Tigers (2011, 2014)

• FNB NWU (2016, 2023)

UFS ready to take on the best

The UFS Shimlas have been preparing tirelessly for the tournament, with a strong focus on teamwork, discipline, and strategy. Head Coach André Tredoux expressed his excitement about the team’s prospects: “Being the defending champions comes with a bit of pressure, but we don’t see it that way. Our motto is that we want to attack the Varsity Cup, hence the best form of defence is to attack. The boys are really excited. They played well against UJ and scored lots of tries, hence our mindset is to attack everything we put our minds to.”

UFS Shimlas Team Captain Nkoka Ngobe echoed his coach’s sentiments, reinforcing his dedication to leading the team to victory. “As the team captain, I have to lead by example and bring the culture of excellence. I will never ask my teammates to do something that I cannot do, so the important thing for me is doing what it takes so that the boys can do the same.”

Get ready for the action

The Varsity Cup promises to deliver seven weeks of non-stop rugby action, with the UFS Shimlas ready to take on the best university teams in the country. Don’t miss out on the excitement – follow the UFS Shimlas on social media to stay up to date and get ready to cheer them on to victory!

Let’s go, Shimlas!

News Archive

Kovsie rugby players represent the UFS internationally

2010-04-17

Jamba Ulengo UFS in the SA Student Sevens Team

Jamba Ulengo
Foto: Gerhard Louw

This year rugby players from the University of the Free State (UFS) not only excelled at national level when Vishuis won the Steinhoff Koshuis Rugby League and Shimlas managed to play in the semi-finals of the Varsity Cup, but they also achieved great heights in the international sports arena.

Kovsie rugby players Hoffman Maritz, Philip van der Walt and JW Jonker have all been included in the South African Sevens Team since November last year. According to Mr Dougie Heymans from KovsieSport at the UFS, the three players have already played in some of the eight tournaments in, amongst others, Dubai, Australia and Hong Kong and they have acquitted themselves well in the team. They are still going to participate in the tournaments in England (22-23 May 2010) and Scotland (29-30 May 2010) respectively.

Jamba Ulengo will also represent the UFS in the SA Student Sevens Team that is going to participate in the Casablanca University Sevens tournament in Morocco from 1-6 April 2010. The Casablanca University Sevens Tournament is an initiative of the Confederation of African Rugby (CAR) that is subscribed and supported by the International Rugby Council to develop rugby in the rest of Africa.

Kovsies Francois du Toit, Jamba Ulengo, Marcel van der Merwe and Nico Scheepers were also part of the SA U/20 group that toured France in February 2010. According to Mr Heymans they also played two games against Argentina in South Africa. “The ‘Jong Bokkies’ won the first match with 39-7. The second match was a 20-20 tie,” he said.

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