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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

Junior quartet invited to master classes in the Netherlands

2011-06-14

The Junior Odeion String Quartet (JOSQ) from our Odeion School of Music has been honoured by being invited to participate in the Internationale Stichting Masterclass Apeldoorn in the Netherlands.

This series of master classes will be attended by 40 young musicians from across the world. The four members of the JOSQ therefore constitute 10% of the chosen participants. This achievement is even more remarkable if one considers that the JOSQ has only been in existence for a year. For a string quartet to achieve such a high international standard in such a short span of time is a clear indication of hard work, persistence, above average musicality and excellent instruction. For the latter, their instructor, Sharon de Kock, deserves all the credit, according to Mr Marius Coetzee, Manager of Innovation and Development at the Odeion School of Music.

Under the guidance of international masters like Raphael Wallfish (cello), Pascal Devoyon (piano), Philippe Graffin (violin), Ásdís Valdimarsdóttir (viola) and Charles Neidich (clarinet), the JOSQ will prepare to perform in a concert which will form part of the final phase of the master classes and which is sure to be the highlight of the course. This concert will take place in Apeldoorn’s Orpheus theatre.

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