2014 Varsity Cup

The 2014 Varsity Cup was contested from 3 February to 7 April 2014. The tournament (also known as the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International for sponsorship reasons) was the seventh season of the Varsity Cup, an annual inter-university rugby union competition featuring eight South African universities.

The tournament was won by for the second time; they beat  39–33 in the final played on 7 April 2014. were automatically relegated to the second-tier Varsity Shield competition for 2015, but won their relegation play-off match against  to remain in the Varsity Cup for 2015.

Rules
The Varsity Cup used a different scoring system to the regular system. Tries were worth five points as usual, but conversions were worth three points, while penalties and drop goals were only worth two points.

All Varsity Cup games also had two referees officiating each game, props' jerseys featured a special gripping patch to ensure better binding, intended to reduce collapsing scrums and the mark will be extended to the entire field.

Competition
There were eight participating universities in the 2014 Varsity Cup. These teams played each other once over the course of the season, either 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 seven points or less. Teams were ranked by log points, then points difference (points scored less points conceded).

The top four teams qualified for the title play-offs. In the semi-finals, the team that finished first had home advantage against the team that finished fourth, while the team that finished second had home advantage against the team that finished third. The winners of these semi-finals played each other in the final, at the home venue of the higher-placed team.

The bottom team in the Varsity Cup was relegated to the 2015 Varsity Shield competition, while the Varsity Shield winner was promoted to the 2015 Varsity Cup. There was also a promotion/relegation match between the 7th-placed team in the Varsity Cup and the Varsity Shield runner-up at the end of the 2014 season.

Teams
The following teams took part in the 2014 Varsity Cup competition:

Standings
The final league standings for the 2014 Varsity Cup were:

Fixtures and results
The 2014 Varsity Cup fixtures were as follows:


 * All times are South African (GMT+2).

Player statistics
The following table contain points which have been scored in competitive games in the 2014 Varsity Cup:

Squad lists
The teams released the following squad lists:

Forwards

Backs
 * Wesley Adonis
 * Justin Benn
 * Lungelo Chonco
 * Tertius Daniller
 * Jan de Klerk
 * Beyers de Villiers
 * Charl de Villiers
 * Renier Ehlers
 * Neethling Gericke
 * Ian Groenewald
 * Liam Hendricks
 * Nicol Heyns
 * Frederick Kirsten
 * Boeta Kleinhans
 * Helmut Lehmann
 * Koos Loubser
 * Niel Oelofse
 * Brendan Pitzer
 * Jurg Streicher
 * Wilhelm van der Sluys
 * Did not play:
 * Brianton Booysen
 * Keith Chenoweth
 * Tebogo Letlape
 * Derick Linde
 * Teunis Nieuwoudt
 * Grant Prior
 * Mark Prior
 * Alistair Vermaak

tbc
 * Craig Barry
 * Bjorn Bernardo
 * Robert du Preez
 * JW Dürr
 * Mark Hodgkiss
 * Gerhard Jordaan
 * Louis Jordaan
 * Clearance Khumalo
 * Johnny Kôtze
 * Jean Nel
 * Louis Nel
 * Caleb Smith
 * Chris Smith
 * Did not play:
 * Brandon Asher-Wood
 * Ryno Eksteen
 * Janco Gunter
 * JP Lewis
 * Warren Seals

Coach
 * Jacobus de Kock
 * Lars Esdar
 * Dirk Kotzé


 * Chris Rossouw

Forwards

Backs
 * Tim Agaba
 * André Barnard
 * Greg Bauer
 * Chris Cloete
 * Wade Elliot
 * Dexter Fahey
 * Martin Ferreira
 * Louis Fourie
 * Roy Godfrey
 * Marcel Groenewald
 * Simon Kerrod
 * Cameron Lindsay
 * Enoch Mnyaka
 * Jody Reyneke
 * Nic Roebeck
 * Stefan Willemse
 * Did not play:
 * Laurence Christie
 * Hannes Huisamen
 * Rob Louw
 * Marzuq Maarman
 * Lumko Mbane
 * Arrie van der Berg
 * Kewan Voysey
 * Stephan Zaayman

Coach
 * Enrico Acker
 * Tythan Adams
 * Michael Bernardt
 * Fanie Booysen
 * Jarryd Buys
 * Aya Dlepu
 * Gavin Hauptfleisch
 * Andile Jho
 * Devon Lailvaux
 * Ivan Ludick
 * Sinakho Mafu
 * Donovan Marais
 * Yamkela Ngam
 * Matt Tweddle
 * Kayle van Zyl
 * Did not play:
 * Ruan Allerston
 * Steven Hansel
 * Dwayne Kelly
 * Sphu Msutwana
 * Juan Smit
 * Billy van Lill
 * Justin van Staden


 * David Maidza

Forwards

Backs
 * Jaco Buys
 * Stompie de Wet
 * Marius Fourie
 * John-Roy Jenkinson
 * Danie Jordaan
 * Robey Labuschagné
 * Juan Language
 * Mash Mafela
 * Lucky Ngcamu
 * Francois Robertse
 * Joe Smith
 * HP Swart
 * Akker van der Merwe
 * Peet van der Walt
 * Elardus Venter
 * Jacques Vermaak
 * Rhyk Welgemoed
 * Did not play:
 * Wian Fourie
 * Anton Krynauw
 * SJ Niemand
 * Siya November
 * Marno Redelinghuys
 * Ettienne Smith

Coach
 * Lucian Cupido
 * Johan Deysel
 * Tiaan Dorfling
 * Adriaan Engelbrecht
 * Sylvian Mahuza
 * Edmar Marais
 * Hoffmann Maritz
 * Akhona Nela
 * Luther Obi
 * Jaap Pienaar
 * Dillon Smit
 * Rhyno Smith
 * Johnny Welthagen
 * Did not play:
 * Rowayne Beukman
 * Warren Gilbert
 * Lloyd Greeff
 * Gerhard Nortier
 * SW Oosthuizen
 * Sarel Smith
 * Marnus Tack
 * Juandré Williams
 * Percy Williams


 * Robert du Preez

Forwards

Backs
 * Guy Alexander
 * Mike Botha
 * Joel Carew
 * Vince Jobo
 * James Kilroe
 * Jason Klaasen
 * Kyle Kriel
 * David Maasch
 * Shaun McDonald
 * Robin Murray
 * Neil Rautenbach
 * Chad Solomon
 * Jan Uys
 * Digby Webb
 * Tino Zakeyo
 * Msizi Zondi
 * Did not play:
 * Brad Bosman
 * Deacon Chowles
 * Gareth Ehret
 * Keegan Ehret
 * Zolani Faku
 * Sean Johnstone
 * Mike Kennedy
 * Jade Kriel
 * Sihle Mtwa
 * Wade Schoor

Coach
 * James Alexander
 * Suwi Chibale
 * Dean Grant
 * Nick Holton
 * Huw Jones
 * Ross Jones-Davies
 * Nate Nel
 * Martin Sauls
 * Guy Schwikkard
 * Liam Slatem
 * Richard Stewart
 * Dave Strachan
 * Lihleli Xoli
 * Did not play:
 * Tom Bednall
 * Paul Cohen
 * Ryan Dugmore
 * Paul Hendry
 * Trent Jenkinson
 * Brendan Rodgers


 * Kevin Musikanth

Forwards

Backs
 * Dolph Botha
 * Gideon Bruwer
 * Tienie Burger
 * Neil Claassen
 * Luan de Bruin
 * Jacques du Toit
 * Elandré Huggett
 * Niell Jordaan
 * Armandt Koster
 * Oupa Mohojé
 * Sihle Ngxabi
 * Markus Odendaal
 * Gerhard Olivier
 * Justin Pappin
 * Nick Schonert
 * Joe van der Hoogt
 * Vaatjie van der Merwe
 * Fanie van der Walt
 * Henco Venter
 * Did not play:
 * Marco Klopper

Coach
 * AJ Coertzen
 * Pieter-Steyn de Wet
 * Maphutha Dolo
 * Franna du Toit
 * Joubert Engelbrecht
 * Ludwig Erasmus
 * Kay-Kay Hlongwane
 * Tertius Kruger
 * Kevin Luiters
 * Gouws Prinsloo
 * Divandré Strydom
 * Sethu Tom
 * Vink van der Walt
 * Robbie van Schalkwyk
 * Did not play:
 * Marco Mason
 * Zee Mkhabela
 * Don Mlondobozi
 * Francois Pretorius
 * Arthur Williams


 * Michael Horak

Forwards

Backs
 * David Antonites
 * Fabian Booysen
 * Van Zyl Botha
 * Henna Bredenkamp
 * François du Toit
 * Jeremy Jordaan
 * Wiseman Kamanga
 * Shane Kirkwood
 * Tiaan Macdonald
 * Devon Marthinus
 * Dylan Peterson
 * Ryan Plasket
 * Kobus Porter
 * Mark Pretorius
 * Victor Sekekete
 * Jannes Snyman
 * JP Swanepoel
 * Rynhardt van Wyk
 * Did not play:
 * Phanta Qinisile
 * Ramon Samuels
 * Lodewyk Uys

Coach
 * Robert de Bruyn
 * JR Esterhuizen
 * Michael Haznar
 * Jaun Kotzé
 * Pieter Morton
 * Jacques Nel
 * Andries Oosthuizen
 * Jacques Pretorius
 * Marais Schmidt
 * Jaco van der Walt
 * Vian van der Watt
 * Lukas van Zyl
 * Harold Vorster
 * PJ Walters
 * Did not play:
 * Kallie Erasmus
 * Selom Gavor
 * Adrian Vermeulen


 * Skollie Janse van Rensburg

Forwards

Backs
 * Brummer Badenhorst
 * Andrew Beerwinkel
 * Leneve Damens
 * Corniel Els
 * Neethling Fouché
 * Irné Herbst
 * Reniel Hugo
 * Jono Janse van Rensburg
 * Jannes Kirsten
 * Wiaan Liebenberg
 * Chris Massyn
 * Juan Schoeman
 * Basil Short
 * Roelof Smit
 * Rudolph Smith
 * Sidney Tobias
 * Arno van Wyk
 * Jaco Visagie
 * Dennis Visser
 * Did not play:
 * Jarrett Crouch
 * Christiaan de Bruin
 * Pierre Schoeman

Coach
 * Carlo Engelbrecht
 * Warrick Gelant
 * Rohan Janse van Rensburg
 * Kefentse Mahlo
 * Duncan Matthews
 * Ryan Nell
 * Burger Odendaal
 * Jacques Rossouw
 * Tian Schoeman
 * Jade Stighling
 * Dries Swanepoel
 * Emile Temperman
 * Francois Tredoux
 * Did not play:
 * Enver Brandt
 * Riaan Britz
 * Kobus Marais
 * Clinton Swart
 * André Warner


 * Pote Human

Forwards

Backs
 * Rinus Bothma
 * JJ Breet
 * Conor Brockschmidt
 * Senna Esterhuizen
 * Jason Fraser
 * JP Jonck
 * Ferdinand Kelly
 * Ashley Kohler
 * Hannes Ludick
 * James Marx
 * Thato Mavundla
 * Devin Montgomery
 * Gideon Muller
 * Rendani Ramovha
 * Pieter van Biljon
 * Kyle Wood
 * Did not play:
 * KK Kgame
 * Max Mhamhe
 * Luvuyo Pupuma
 * Cameron Shafto
 * Phaka Zuma

Coach
 * Riaan Arends
 * Brent Crossley
 * Ashlon Davids
 * Mandla Dube
 * Jacques Erasmus
 * Divan Ferguson
 * Nkuli Gamede
 * Joshua Jarvis
 * Ruhan Nel
 * Wilton Pietersen
 * Matt Torrance
 * Did not play:
 * Alistair Ballantyne
 * Greg Blom
 * Ryno Brits
 * Kenneth du Plessis
 * Grant Janke
 * Jared Meyer
 * Ish Nkolo
 * Lonwabo Semane


 * Andy Royle

Referees
The following referees officiated matches in the 2014 Varsity Cup:


 * Rodney Boneparte
 * Ben Crouse
 * Gerrie de Bruin
 * Christie du Preez
 * Daniel Fortuin
 * Stephan Geldenhuys
 * Quinton Immelman
 * Cwengile Jadezweni
 * Jaco Kotze
 * Pro Legoete
 * Eduan Nel
 * Tahla Ntshakaza
 * Francois Pretorius
 * Jaco Pretorius
 * Oregopotse Rametsi
 * Rasta Rasivhenge
 * Archie Sehlako
 * Lourens van der Merwe
 * Marius van der Westhuizen
 * Jaco van Heerden