FNB Varsity Cup 2026 explodes into life with try-fest opening round
The opening round of the 2026 FNB Varsity Cup delivered a wave of high-scoring, dominant performances across the board, highlighted by FNB UP-Tuks stunning defending champions FNB UCT Ikeys 38-22 at Tuks Stadium. FNB UFS Shimlas launched their campaign in emphatic fashion, overpowering FNB Maties 50-39 in a high-tempo thriller that produced 13 tries at Shimla Park in Bloemfontein. At CUT Stadium, FNB NWU Eagles claimed all the points in a high-scoring clash, defeating the home side FNB CUT 59-42 in an attacking spectacle. While in Johannesburg, FNB UJ ran rampant in their opening fixture, sealing a comprehensive 61-41 victory over newly promoted FNB Emeris in a dominant display.
UFS Shimlas 50-39 Maties
The UFS Shimlas drew first blood in the 2026 Varsity Cup with a thrilling bonus-point 50-39 victory over the Maties at Shimla Park in Bloemfontein.
The high-scoring clash marked a historic moment in the tournament’s history, with the first-ever powerplay (tap) tries being scored. That honour, however, went to the visitors from the Cape Winelands.
Shimlas burst out of the blocks, racing into a commanding 21–0 lead within the first 25 minutes. Winger Kirwin du Preez, centre Wynand Botha, and hooker Jaco Bezuidenhout all crossed the whitewash as the hosts stamped their authority early on.
Just minutes before half-time, Maties clawed their way back with a second try. Instead of opting for a routine conversion, they backed themselves and went for the quick tap, which paid off handsomely as CJ Marx crashed over to score the tournament’s first-ever powerplay try.
Shimlas went into the break holding a slender 21–17 lead after a momentum-swinging end to the half.
Maties came out firing in the second stanza, with Christiaan van Heerden Smith and Armand Combrinck dotting down to swing the pressure onto the home side. But Shimlas responded in style. The impressive lock Maynard Kleynhans showed surprising pace, beating defenders down the touchline like a winger to score in the corner. Liam Shamburg then added his name to the scoresheet in a standout performance that earned him the Player of the Match award.
Captain Bradley Giddy kept his composure under pressure, slotting two long-range kicks to stretch the lead and put the game seemingly out of reach for the five-time champions. Yet Maties refused to roll over.
Replacement hooker CJ Erasmus powered over on the stroke of full-time, and in another successful powerplay move, lock Zuko Poswa grabbed an additional five points to keep the scoreboard ticking.
In the end, FNB UFS Shimlas had done enough to secure a memorable opening-night victory in front of their passionate home crowd.
The evening was also a poignant one in Bloemfontein, as the Shimlas paid tribute to two recently departed legends of the game – Oom Tat Botha and former Springbok hooker Wessel Lightfoot – making the victory even more meaningful on a special night at Shimla Park.
SCORERS
UFS Shimlas: (21) 50
Tries: Kirwin du Preez (POR), Wynard Botha (POR), Jaco Bezuidenhout X2, Maynard Kleynhans (POR), Liam Shamburg.
Maties: (17) 39
Tries: Fortune Mpofu, Rynhardt van der Linden, CJ Marx (powerplay), Christiaan van Heerden Smith, Armand Combrinck, CJ Erasmus, Zuko Poswa.
Player of the Match: Liam Shamburg (UFS Shimlas)
FNB UP-Tuks 38-22 FNB UCT Ikeys
FNB UP-Tuks produced a stirring comeback to secure an emphatic 38-22 victory over the defending champions as the FNB Varsity Cup burst into life at a packed Tuks Stadium. The Pretoria side rose to the occasion against FNB UCT Ikeys, overturning an early deficit in a high-intensity, action-packed encounter.
FNB UJ 61-41 FNB Emeris
A clinical second-half performance secured a comprehensive victory for FNB UJ against FNB Emeris in the opening round of the 2026FNB Varsity Cup at the UJ Stadium in Johannesburg on Monday.
FNB CUT 42-59 FNB NWU Eagles
It was an absolute try-fest in Bloemfontein as a powerful second-half surge saw the FNB NWU Eagles claim a hard-fought 59-42 victory to kick-off their 2026 Varsity Cup campaign in style against FNB CUT.