The 2016 Varsity Cup was contested from 8 February to 11 April 2016. The tournament (also known as the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International for sponsorship reasons) was the ninth season of the Varsity Cup, an annual inter-university rugby union competition featuring eight South African universities.
Following a disruption during the Round Three match between UFS Shimlas and NMMU Madibaz[1][2] and general unrest on various university campuses, all fixtures scheduled for 29 February were postponed to 4 April,[3] with the semi-finals and final also postponed by a week. On 1 March, it was also announced that the round of matches scheduled for 7 March would also be postponed, with the situation at various universities being monitored to determine when the competition would resume.[4] After a meeting by the executive management of Varsity Rugby on 9 March, it was decided that all remaining matches in the competition would be played at neutral venues and that matches should resume on 14 March.[5]
Competition rules and information
There were eight participating universities in the 2016 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 qualified for a relegation play-off against the runner-up of the Varsity Shield at the end of the season.
The Varsity Cup introduced a new scoring system for 2016, where tries could be worth five, seven or nine points, depending on the point where the try-scoring move originated. If the try-scoring move originated in the opponents' 22, it would count five points. If the try-scoring move originated between the halfway line and the opponents' 22, two bonus points were awarded for a seven-point try. If the try originated in the try-scoring team's own half, four bonus points were awarded and the try would be worth nine points. In another change from previous seasons, the points for kicks reverted to the common scoring system used in rugby union – conversions were worth two points, while penalties and drop goals were worth three points.
While the 2014 and 2015 editions of the Varsity Cup saw all matches officiated by two referees, this reverted to just one official for 2016.
The Varsity Cup also retained the White Card system introduced in 2015, but only for the semi-finals and the final. 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.[6]
There were two further changes introduced for the 2016 season. Firstly, if a maul did not move forwards for a period of five seconds, the referee would give the team in possession a further three seconds to use the ball and failure to do so resulted in turnover of possession. Secondly, the traditional "crouch, bind, set" scrum call was changed to "crouch, bind, slide", with the slide call ensuring no impact between the front rows.[7][8]
There were also some changes to the quota system: the number of players of colour that had to be included in a matchday 23 was increased from six to seven, with three of those in the starting line-up. Teams were allowed to field four first-year students under the age of 22, of which three have to be players of colour. Three additional first-year students could be fielded with no racial quotas, provided they were in Grade 12 at high school in 2015.[9]
P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TF = Tries for, TA = Tries against, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points
The top four teams qualified to the semi-finals. The first-placed team hosted the fourth-placed team and the second-placed team hosted the third-placed team. The higher-ranked semi-final winner then hosted the lower-ranked semi-final winner in the final. The bottom side qualified for the relegation play-offs.
Points breakdown: * 4 points for a win * 2 points for a draw * 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less * 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match
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:
Try:Khanyo Ngcukana45' Nate Nel 74' (2BP) Con: Robert Anderson (0/1) Hilio de Abreu 75' (1/1) Pen: Hilio de Abreu 81' (1/1) Cards: Joel Carew 39' to 50'
Try: Arthur Williams 7' Nardus Erasmus69' (2BP) Mosolwa Mafuma72' (2BP) Con: Stephan Janse van Rensburg 8', 73' (2/3) Cards: Teunis Nieuwoudt 42' to 53'
Try:Aphiwe Dyantyi14' (4BP), 53' (2BP) penalty try49' Con: Divan Nel 15', 50', 54' (3/3) Pen: Divan Nel 8', 31', 72' (3/4) Drop: Divan Nel (0/1) Cards:Wian Conradie 18' to 29' Ronald Brown 22' to 34'
Note: Two or four Conversions count three points, while penalties and drop goals count two points. * Legend: T = Tries, TB = Try bonus points,[note 3] C = Conversions, P = Penalties, DG = Drop Goals, Pts = Points.
Squads
The following squads were named for the 2016 Varsity Cup:
Gerard Baard • Justin Basson • Junior Burger • Wikus Davis • Johann Grundlingh • Günther Janse van Vuuren • Sylvester Makakole • George Marich • Vincent Maruping • Rayno Nel • Len Noort • Dean Rossouw • SJ Roux • Neil Schoombee • Theunis Truter • Cameron van Heerden • Jean Volkwyn • Jasper Wiese • Did not play: • Stefan Kruger • JJ Nell • Bester Olivier • Ian Smith • Ian van Wyk
Backs
Darren Baron • Mauro Bucuchane • Marius Grobler • Charlie Hitchcock • Henry Immelman • Dean Jacobs • Tiisetso Madonsela • Ali Mgijima • Lethole Mokoena • Olwethu Ndakisa • Johan Nel • Mosego Toolo • Clinton Toua • Meyer van Tonder • Ruan Wasserman • Did not play: • Jesse du Toit • Muller Joubert
Brandon Asher-Wood • Craig Barry • Bjorn Bernardo • SP Ferreira • Carlton Fortune • Remu Malan • Carlisle Nel • Brendon Nell • Duncan Saal • Chris Smit • Chris Smith • Ernst Stapelberg • Kyle Steyn • Paul Streicher • Edwill van der Merwe • Braam Venter • Jason Worrall • Did not play: • Eduan Keyter • Ronald Rijk Albertus Melck • Louis Nel • James Edward Vorster
Guy Alexander • Joel Carew • Brenton Greaves • Olwethu Hans • Jason Klaasen • Jade Kriel • Michael Kumbirai • Jayson Landman • David Maasch • Struan Murray • Sean Paterson • Gary Porter • Mark Prior • Duncan Saffy • Alva Senderayi • Luke Stringer • Nyasha Tarusenga • Samuel Theron • Keagan Timm • Msizi Zondi • Did not play: • Brendan Ross Clements • Alex Goldstein • Aphiwe Qaba • Stuart Stopforth • Tino Zakeyo
Backs
Robert Anderson • Kofi Appiah • Tom Bednall • Suwi Chibale • Hilio de Abreu • Justin Heunis • Bradley Janse van Rensburg • Rico Lategan • Nate Nel • Khanyo Ngcukana • Gerard Pieterse • Sebastian Roodt • Joel Smith • Dylan-Lee Tidbury • Steve Wallace • Lihleli Xoli • Did not play: • Stefano de Gouveia • Paul Hendry • Rayno Mapoe • Jesse Wilensky
^ ab According to the match report on the South African Rugby Union website, the final score of the UCT Ikey Tigers v NWU Pukke match was 24–6.[11] However, according to the Varsity Cup website, it was 22–6.[12] The weekly match round-up on SARU's website also reports a final score of 22–6, so this final scoreline was assumed.[13]
^ ab On 22 March 2016, the Varsity Cup Executive Committee announced that CUT Ixias had two points deducted for fielding an ineligible player in their Round One match against Maties.[14]
^ ab In addition to the five points for a try, an additional two or four bonus points may also awarded for each individual try, depending on where the try-scoring move originated.[16][17] These are indicated by (2BP) or (4BP) after the minute of the try.
^ abcd The SARU match report lists the name of the 34th minute try-scorer as Mosolwa Mafuma,[35] while the Varsity Cup match report lists it as Pieter-Steyn de Wet in the report and scoreboard sections.[36] The latter was assumed to be correct.
^ ab According to the SARU match report,[37] Rhyno Smith missed a conversion in the 34th minute. However, no try was scored prior to that. It's assumed to be a missed penalty instead.
^ abcdefg The SARU match report[71] erroneously duplicated Duhan van der Merwe's 12th minute try and Joshua Stander's subsequent conversion. These were omitted from the match scorers and top scorers list. The match report originally listed a 51st minute try and subsequent conversion by Tinus de Beer, which was subsequently removed, presumably to attempt to fix the extra try. However, the Varsity Cup match report[72] lists De Beer as a try scorer and the half-time score of 63–7 indicates that this try was only scored in the second half. The 78th minute try scorer is listed as Jan Enslin, while the Varsity Cup match report lists this as Duhan van der Merwe. A match report from Netwerk24[73] backs up the Varsity Cup scorecard, so those scorers were used.
^ ab The SARU match report lists the 30th minute conversion as missed by Meyer van Tonder,[74] but the Varsity Cup match report indicates he converted four tries,[75] with their official Twitter feed confirming it was converted.[76]
^ ab The SARU match report lists the 18th minute conversion as missed by Rhyno Smith,[77] but the Varsity Cup match report indicates he converted two tries,[78] with their official Twitter feed confirming it was converted.[79]
