2014 Varsity Shield

The 2014 Varsity Shield was contested from 27 January to 31 March 2014. The tournament (also known as the FNB Varsity Shield presented by Steinhoff International for sponsorship reasons) was the fourth season of the Varsity Shield, an annual second-tier inter-university rugby union competition featuring five South African universities.

The tournament was won by for the second consecutive time and third time overall; they beat  35–26 in the final played on 31 March 2015. were automatically promoted to the top-tier Varsity Cup competition for 2015, but lost their promotion play-off match against  to remain in the Varsity Shield for 2015. Bottom side won their relegation play-off match against challengers  to also remain in the Varsity Shield for 2015.

Rules
The Varsity Shield 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.

Competition
There were five participating universities in the 2014 Varsity Shield. These teams played each other 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 seven points or less. Teams were ranked by log points, then points difference (points scored less points conceded).

The top two teams qualified for the title play-offs. These teams played each other in the final, at the home venue of the higher-placed team.

The Varsity Shield winner was promoted to the 2015 Varsity Cup competition, while the bottom team in the Varsity Cup was relegated to the 2015 Varsity Shield. 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.

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

Fixtures
The 2014 Varsity Shield fixtures were as follows:


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

Player statistics
The following table contains points which have been scored in the 2014 Varsity Shield.

Squad lists
The teams released the following squad lists:

Forwards

Backs
 * Gerard Baard
 * Moekoa Bolofo
 * Fanie Coetzer
 * Daniel de Jager
 * Deon Gouws
 * Johann Grundlingh
 * Juan Hugo
 * Dean Kauprihanoff
 * Hanro Liebenberg
 * Vincent Maruping
 * Len Noort
 * Lyvette Shikwambana
 * Frans Sisita
 * Theuns Truter
 * Danie van der Merwe
 * Ian van Wyk
 * Jasper Wiese
 * Did not play:
 * Junior Burger
 * Henko de Jager
 * Carl Gersbach
 * Boetie Maketla
 * JJ Nel
 * Kevin Pretorius
 * Jean-Luke van Zyl

Coach
 * Heinrich Bitzi
 * Stephan Griesel
 * Marius Grobler
 * Charlie Hitchcock
 * Noël Marx
 * Alec Mhlanga
 * Johan Nel
 * Duan Pretorius
 * Kholo Ramashala
 * Mosego Toolo
 * Johan van Schalkwyk
 * Did not play:
 * Hanro Pretorius
 * Stephan Schutte
 * Clinton Toua


 * Skillie Bester

Forwards

Backs
 * Ricardo Burger
 * Isak Deetlefs
 * Hamish Herd
 * Claude Johannes
 * Adriaan Joubert
 * Ewald Maré
 * Juan Maritz
 * Armand Marshall
 * Pieter Matthews
 * Mandla Mdaka
 * Barend Nordeje
 * David Pieterse
 * Werner Serfontein
 * Ryan Sim
 * Gerrit van Gerwe
 * Did not play:
 * Jan Arnoldus Els
 * Wayne Short

tbc
 * Leroy Afrika
 * Curtly Brinkhuis
 * Deon Fitchet
 * Brian Guillen
 * Morné Hugo
 * Deon Michael Joubert
 * Ralphton Minnaar
 * Edwin Oliver
 * Shane Pretorius
 * Gaybrin Smith
 * Andries Truter
 * Did not play:
 * Darrio Bezuidenhout
 * Shawn Jaards
 * Thabo Mangena
 * Thabang Mathebula
 * Paul Walters

Coach
 * Did not play:
 * Quintis Anton Janse van Vuuren
 * Janco Muller
 * Lindokuhle Sambo
 * Diedrichdt Smit


 * André Eloff

Forwards

Backs
 * Masixole David
 * Onke Dubase
 * Billy Dutton
 * Madoda Mbulelo Ludidi
 * Lwando Mabenge
 * Athenkosi Manentsa
 * Xola Mapapu
 * Ntyara Mkhafu
 * Thembelihle Mpapha
 * Olwethu Mputla
 * Angelo Timothy Nhlapo
 * Luzuko Nyabaza
 * Siyabulela Sijula
 * Sibusiso Sityebi
 * Sibabalwe Tshoni
 * Mzwandile Yalezo
 * Did not play:
 * Litha Labase
 * Lubabalo Elton Lento
 * Zuko Lerula
 * Lunga Innocent Nohlwati

tbc
 * Bangi Kobese
 * Lukhanyiso Komani
 * Andile Makinana
 * Lithabile Mgwadleka
 * Sibabalwe Mtsulwana
 * Saneliso Ngoma
 * Lundi Ralarala
 * Mkhululi Sonqishe
 * Garth van Rayner
 * Oliver Zono
 * Did not play:
 * Lungelo Kepe
 * Curtis Kleinhans
 * Lwando Makhongolo
 * Anda Nanto
 * Lutho Zatu

Coach
 * Did not play:
 * Busiwe Fani
 * Six Maselwa


 * Elliot Fana

Forwards

Backs
 * Henri Boshoff
 * Deon Carney
 * Marco Hillebrand
 * Michael Hutton
 * Gideon Koegelenberg
 * Sizwe Kubheka
 * Bart le Roux
 * Sanele Malwane
 * Dean Muir
 * Leon Mulder
 * Lwazi Ngcungama
 * Sabelo Tshabalala
 * Kabous van Schalkwyk
 * Johan Wagenaar
 * Mikyle Webster
 * Ado Wessels
 * Zwela Zondi
 * Did not play:
 * Marné Coetzee
 * André Greyvenstein
 * Matthew Mandioma
 * Richard Mhlongo
 * Siya Mhlongo
 * Luciando Santos

tbc
 * Brandon Bailing
 * Alrich Brown
 * Duncan Campbell
 * Brendan Cope
 * Spa Dube
 * Henkie Groenewald
 * Rico Lategan
 * Nelson Makhanye
 * Shayne Makombe
 * Kurt Mavrodaris
 * Yandisa Mdolomba
 * Garath Meikle
 * Philip Molnar
 * Gavin Nyawata
 * Cameron Wright
 * Did not play:
 * Ncgebo Masikane
 * Mondli Ntshingila
 * Ruhan Smit
 * Sandile Zulu

Coach
 * Did not play:
 * Lindo Radebe


 * John Mitchell

Forwards

Backs
 * Mogamat Adams
 * Tahriq Allan
 * Siphiwo Bakeni
 * Brandon Beukman
 * Samuel Borsah
 * Kelvin de Bruyn
 * Matthew Faught
 * Philbrey Joseph
 * José Julies
 * Timothy Louw
 * Darren Luiters
 * Pallo Manuel
 * Sebenza Maphumulo
 * Heinrich Marcus
 * Michael Mkhize
 * Njabulo Ndlovu
 * Adeeb October
 * Pat O'Brien
 * William Scott
 * Did not play:
 * Curtis Beukes
 * Oswin Mentoor

Coach
 * Dumisani Dyonase
 * Dean Herbert
 * Keanu Langeveldt
 * Quaid Langeveldt
 * Minenhle Mthethwa
 * Freddie Muller
 * Matthew Nortjé
 * Warrick Rhoda
 * Yondela Stampu
 * Dale van Schalkwyk
 * James Verity-Amm
 * Melik Wana
 * Kenwinn Wiener
 * Rufus Witbooi
 * Did not play:
 * Charlton Afrika
 * Daniel Bock
 * Lubabalo Faleni
 * Justin McKay
 * Cleo Voster


 * Peter de Villiers

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


 * Rodney Boneparte
 * Ben Crouse
 * Gerrie de Bruin
 * Stephan Geldenhuys
 * Quinton Immelman
 * Cwengile Jadezweni
 * Lusanda Jam
 * Jaco Kotze
 * Eduan Nel
 * Francois Pretorius
 * Jaco Pretorius
 * Oregopotse Rametsi
 * Archie Sehlako
 * Lourens van der Merwe