2015 Varsity Cup

The 2015 Varsity Cup was contested from 9 February to 13 April 2015. The tournament (also known as the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International for sponsorship reasons) was the eighth season of the Varsity Cup, an annual inter-university rugby union competition featuring eight South African universities.

The tournament was won by, who beat 63–33 in the final played on 13 April 2015. No team was relegated to the second-tier Varsity Shield competition for 2016.

Competition rules and information
There were eight participating universities in the 2015 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.

There was no relegation to the Varsity Shield at the end of the season.

The 2015 Varsity Cup used a different scoring system than the common scoring system. Tries were worth five points as usual, but conversions were worth three points instead of two, while penalties and drop goals were only worth two points instead of three.

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 was extended to the entire field.

The Varsity Cup also reintroduced the White Card system from 2015. Under this system, either team's coach or captain could refer incidents for further review, similar to the Umpire Decision Review System used in cricket. They could have incidents reviewed that they believed were either given incorrectly or went unnoticed by the on-field referees. Each team was entitled to one review in each half of the match; if a review proved successful, the team retained their white card review for that half, but if it was unsuccessful, they lost the right to further reviews for the remainder of the half.

Teams
The following teams took part in the 2015 Varsity Cup competition:

Standings
The final league standings for the 2015 Varsity Cup were:

Round-by-round
The table below shows each team's progression throughout the season. For each round, their cumulative points total is shown with the overall log position in brackets:

Fixtures
The 2015 Varsity Cup fixtures were released as follows:


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

Honours
The honour roll for the 2015 Varsity Cup was as follows:

Player statistics
The following table contain points which have been scored in games in the 2015 Varsity Cup season:

Squad lists
The teams released the following squad lists:

Forwards

Backs
 * Gerard Baard
 * Anrich Bitzi
 * Daneel Botes
 * Fanie Coetzer
 * Jozua de Jager
 * Jean-Claude Fourie
 * Dean Kouprihanoff
 * Boetie Maketlo
 * Victor Maruping
 * Rayno Nel
 * JJ Nell
 * Len Noort
 * Jean Pretorius
 * Dean Rossouw
 * Jeandré Roux
 * Neil Schoombee
 * Ian Smith
 * Frans Sisita
 * Theunis Truter
 * Did not play:
 * Thabo Chirwa
 * Wikus Davis
 * Kyle Ess
 * Deon Gouws
 * Johann Grundlingh
 * Carel Frederick Janse van Vuuren
 * John Lonergan
 * Vincent Maruping
 * Ian van Wyk
 * Jasper Wiese

Coach
 * Luke Cyster
 * Jesse du Toit
 * Christiaan Erasmus
 * Marius Grobler
 * Charlie Hitchcock
 * Henry Immelman
 * Dean Jacobs
 * Ali Mgijima
 * Lethole Mokoena
 * Johannes Nel
 * Duan Pretorius
 * Mosego Toolo
 * Naudé van Biljon
 * Arrie Vosloo
 * Did not play:
 * Heinrich Bitzi
 * Chad de Koker
 * Noël Marx
 * Johan Nel
 * Hanro Pretorius
 * Werner Rembold
 * Makgema Setlaba
 * Clinton Toua

}}
 * Skillie Bester

Forwards

Backs
 * Wesley Adonis
 * Justin Benn
 * Lungelo Chonco
 * Craig Corbett
 * AJ de Klerk
 * Beyers de Villiers
 * Coenraad Fick
 * Neethling Gericke
 * Migael Grobler
 * Ian Groenewald
 * Marko Janse van Rensburg
 * Derick Linde
 * John-Hubert Meyer
 * Devon Nash
 * Niel Oelofse
 * Grant Prior
 * Wilhelm van der Sluys
 * Jacobus van der Merwe
 * Kobus van Dyk
 * Janco Venter
 * Did not play:
 * Human Carstens
 * Gareth Theunis de Bruin
 * Jacobus de Kock
 * Johan Roual de Villiers
 * Andreas Rufus Dercksen
 * Renier Ehlers
 * Athenkosi Gaqa
 * Liam Hendricks
 * Rees Keene
 * Freddie Kirsten
 * Boeta Kleinhans
 * Basil Liebenberg
 * Justin Moberly
 * GD Orlam
 * Tangeni Sindano Shatiwa
 * Willem Jacobus Smith
 * Attie Francois van Rensburg
 * Willem van Schalkwyk

Coach
 * Brandon Asher-Wood
 * Craig Barry
 * Bjorn Bernardo
 * Jamie Joseph
 * Kyle Leibrandt
 * JP Lewis
 * Koos Loubser
 * Remu Malan
 * Michael Muller
 * Jean Nel
 * Louis Nel
 * Ernst Stapelberg
 * Paul Streicher
 * Brandon Thomson
 * Christoff van Tonder
 * Did not play:
 * Louis Jordaan
 * Christopher James Keet
 * William Robin Keet
 * Jacquin Adrian Marthinus
 * Carlisle Nel
 * Ryan Oosthuizen
 * Jakobus Putter
 * Chris Smit
 * Chris Smith
 * Kyle Steyn
 * Jan Abraham Venter
 * Divan Visser
 * James Edward Vorster
 * Jason Worrall

}}
 * Chris Rossouw

Forwards

Backs
 * Laurence Christie
 * Ivan-John du Preez
 * Arno Ebersohn
 * Wynand Grassmann
 * Rob Louw
 * Marzuq Maarman
 * Andisa Ntsila
 * Philip Odendaal
 * Brenden Olivier
 * Tyler Paul
 * Jody Reyneke
 * Steven-Floyd Robbeson
 * Elandré van der Merwe
 * Dane van der Westhuyzen
 * CJ Velleman
 * Warrick Venter
 * Stephan Zaayman
 * Did not play:
 * Cody Basson
 * Ruben Fourie
 * Kevin Kaba
 * Marius le Roux
 * Sintu Manjezi
 * Zaine Marx
 * Tyrone Rankin
 * Nic Roebeck

Coach
 * Enrico Acker
 * Tythan Adams
 * Ruan Allerston
 * Eben Barnard
 * Michael Bernardt
 * Jarryd Buys
 * Steven Hansel
 * Andile Jho
 * Creswin Joseph
 * Devon Lailvaux
 * Ivan Ludick
 * Khaya Molotana
 * Yamkela Ngam
 * Brian Skosana
 * Did not play:
 * Aya Dlepu
 * Luan Nieuwoudt
 * Juan Smit
 * Franswa Ueckermann
 * MC Venter
 * Lindelwe Zungu

}}
 * David Maidza

Forwards

Backs
 * Wilmar Arnoldi
 * Molotsi Bouwer
 * Jaco Buys
 * Cayle Denner
 * Wian Fourie
 * John-Roy Jenkinson
 * Danie Jordaan
 * Armandt Liebenberg
 * Mogau Mabokela
 * Loftus Morrison
 * Marno Redelinghuys
 * Jeandré Rudolph
 * Joe Smith
 * Walt Steenkamp
 * Ruan Venter
 * Jacques Vermaak
 * Rhyk Welgemoed
 * Did not play:
 * Jaco Botha
 * Joshwine Cornelius
 * Funane Mabala
 * Mash Mafela
 * Lucky Ngcamu
 * PJ Uys

Coach
 * Rowayne Beukman
 * Myburgh Briers
 * Johan Deysel
 * Warren Gilbert
 * Dalen Goliath
 * Dillon Smit
 * Heinrich Smit
 * Rhyno Smith
 * Dean Stokes
 * Malherbe Swart
 * Marnus Tack
 * Johnny Welthagen
 * Juandré Williams
 * Percy Williams
 * Did not play:
 * Lucian Cupido
 * Tiaan Dorfling
 * Dries du Plooy
 * Arthur Festus
 * Sylvian Mahuza
 * Henko Marais
 * Alvino Montjies
 * Akhona Nela
 * Luther Obi
 * Adriaan Oosthuizen
 * Chriswill September

}}
 * Robert du Preez

Forwards

Backs
 * Guy Alexander
 * Mike Botha
 * Joel Carew
 * Mike Kennedy
 * James Kilroe
 * Jason Klaasen
 * Jade Kriel
 * David Maasch
 * Robin Murray
 * Mark Prior
 * Chad Solomon
 * Luke Stringer
 * Digby Webb
 * Kyle Whyte
 * Tino Zakeyo
 * Msizi Zondi
 * Did not play:
 * Brad Bosman
 * Gareth Ehret
 * Sebastian Ferreira
 * Olwethu Hans
 * Matthew Jones
 * Aiden Monk
 * Aphiwe Qaba
 * Kiernan Allan Rabie
 * Duncan Saffy
 * Rushdie Salie
 * Alva Senderayi
 * Joshua John Smallbones
 * Devon Stone
 * Stuart William Stopforth
 * Nyasha Tarusenga
 * Samuel Theron
 * Keagan Timm

Coach
 * James Alexander
 * Tom Bednall
 * Paul Cohen
 * Ryan Dugmore
 * Dean Gericke
 * Nick Holton
 * Nate Nel
 * Khanyo Ngcukana
 * Brendan Rodgers
 * Dylan Sage
 * Guy Schwikkard
 * Warren Seals
 * Richard Stewart
 * Lihleli Xoli
 * Did not play:
 * Greg Alexander
 * Daniel Ben Keys Anderson
 * Robert Anderson
 * Suwi Chibale
 * Steven Cullingworth
 * Stefano de Gouveia
 * Paul Hendry
 * Bradley Janse van Rensburg
 * Huw Jones
 * Karl Brian Martin
 * Gianluca Salvador Rizzo
 * Sebastian Roodt
 * Jarryd Sage
 * Justin Scott
 * Joel Smith
 * Dylan-Lee Tidbury
 * Steve Wallace
 * Storm Michael Winter

}}
 * Kevin Musikanth

Forwards

Backs
 * Dolph Botha
 * Tienie Burger
 * Neil Claassen
 * Jacques du Toit
 * Elandré Huggett
 * Nicolaas Immelman
 * Niell Jordaan
 * Marco Klopper
 * De Wet Kruger
 * Daniel Maartens
 * Steven Meiring
 * Chase Morison
 * Ox Nché
 * Teunis Nieuwoudt
 * Gerhard Olivier
 * Fiffy Rampeta
 * Hennie-Schalk Theron
 * Joe van der Hoogt
 * Conraad van Vuuren
 * Boela Venter
 * Henco Venter
 * Did not play:
 * Murray Bondesio
 * Armandt Koster
 * Markus Odendaal
 * Justin Pappin
 * Ockie van Zyl

Coach
 * Renier Botha
 * AJ Coertzen
 * JP Coetzee
 * Maphutha Dolo
 * Kay-Kay Hlongwane
 * Stephan Janse van Rensburg
 * Tertius Kruger
 * Nico Lee
 * Vuyani Maqina
 * Niel Marais
 * Marco Mason
 * Zee Mkhabela
 * Arthur Williams
 * Did not play:
 * Pieter-Steyn de Wet
 * Ludwig Erasmus
 * Tanaks Takudzwa Matsinde
 * Francois Pretorius

}}
 * Franco Smith


 * basestyle =

Forwards

Backs
 * David Antonites
 * Wian Conradie
 * Nico du Plessis
 * Brandon Landsberg
 * Werner Lourens
 * Gareth Milasinovich
 * Etienne Oosthuizen
 * Dylan Peterson
 * Kobus Porter
 * Phanta Qinisile
 * Raeez Salie
 * Baksteen Snyman
 * Kyle van Dalen
 * Griffith van Wyk
 * Did not play:
 * Dillon Bakos
 * Steven Barber
 * Pieter Jansen
 * Jeremy Jordaan
 * Kyle Kruger
 * Ruan Macdonald
 * Tiaan Macdonald
 * Vernon Petersen
 * Achmad Salie
 * Victor Sekekete
 * Waldo Weideman

Coach
 * Ronald Brown
 * Jamie Campbell
 * Robert de Bruyn
 * Aphiwe Dyantyi
 * Chuma Faas
 * Jaco Fourie
 * Dominic Kroezen
 * Bradley Moolman
 * Hilton Mudariki
 * Andries Oosthuizen
 * Adrian Vermeulen
 * Did not play:
 * Kofi Appiah
 * JJ de Klerk
 * Kallie Erasmus
 * Selom Gavor
 * Thato Marobela
 * Divan Johannes Nel
 * Jacques Nel
 * Godfrey Ramaboea
 * Lukas van Zyl
 * PJ Walters

}}
 * Skollie Janse van Rensburg

Forwards

Backs
 * Andrew Beerwinkel
 * Clyde Davids
 * Jan Enslin
 * Justin Forwood
 * Neethling Fouché
 * Irné Herbst
 * Reniel Hugo
 * Pieter Jansen van Vuren
 * Jason Jenkins
 * Jannes Kirsten
 * Wiaan Liebenberg
 * Nqoba Mxoli
 * Juan Schoeman
 * Rudolph Smith
 * Ruan Steenkamp
 * Jan van der Merwe
 * Dayan van der Westhuizen
 * Heinrich Viljoen
 * Jaco Visagie
 * Dennis Visser
 * Did not play:
 * Derek Botha
 * Wesley Cloete
 * Christiaan de Bruin
 * Corniel Els
 * Pieter Johan Griesel
 * Primo Ncube

Coach
 * Riaan Britz
 * Dewald Human
 * JT Jackson
 * Jermaine Kleinsmith
 * Dan Kriel
 * Adrian Maebane
 * Duncan Matthews
 * Ryan Nell
 * Jacques Rossouw
 * Joshua Stander
 * Emile Temperman
 * Damian van Wyk
 * André Warner
 * Did not play:
 * Wesley Cupido
 * Carlo Engelbrecht
 * Andries Jacobus Kruger
 * Kefentse Mahlo
 * Ganfried May
 * JP Smith
 * Jade Stighling
 * Francois Tredoux
 * Leighton van Wyk
 * Impi Visser

}}
 * Pote Human

Discipline
The following table contains all the cards handed out during the tournament:

Dream Team
After the 2015 Varsity Cup, a Varsity Cup Dream Team was announced. This team would play against the South Africa Under-20s in Stellenbosch on 21 April 2015. The head coach of the champions, Franco Smith, was appointed as the coach of the side and lock Reniel Hugo was appointed as captain. Inny Radebe, who played for the 2015 Varsity Shield champions was also named in the squad.

Dan Kriel and Jaco Visagie were originally selected in the 2015 Varsity Cup Dream Team, but subsequently replaced by Johan Deysel and Elandré Huggett respectively.

The Dream Team made the early running in the match, with two first-half tries – a penalty try and a try by full-back Rhyno Smith – giving them a 12–10 half-time lead over the South African Under-20s. Second-half tries by Dillon Smit and Elandré Huggett proved to not be enough, with the South African Under-20s running out 31–24 winners.

Referees
The following referees officiated matches in the 2015 Varsity Cup:


 * Rodney Boneparte
 * Ben Crouse
 * Stephan Geldenhuys
 * Quinton Immelman
 * Cwengile Jadezweni
 * Jaco Kotze
 * Pro Legoete
 * Tahla Ntshakaza
 * Francois Pretorius
 * Jaco Pretorius
 * Oregopotse Rametsi
 * Archie Sehlako
 * Lourens van der Merwe
 * Marius van der Westhuizen