In 2011, a second tier was added below the FNB Varsity Cup tournament called FNB Varsity Shield.
Seven university teams participate in FNB Varsity Shield after three new universities joined the competition in 2017 - FNB CUT, FNB Rhodes and FNB WSU. FNB UFH and 2015 winners FNB UKZN are the only ever-present teams in FNB Varsity Shield history. FNB Wits, FNB CUT and FNB UWC have all been promoted to FNB Varsity Cup over the years.
The scores in the finals thus far has been:
2011 FNB WITS 18-25 FNB CUT @ Wits Rugby Stadium
2012 FNB CUT 17-19 FNB WITS @ CUT Rugby Stadium
2013 FNB CUT 29-19 FNB UWC @ CUT Rugby Stadium
2014 FNB CUT 35-26 FNB UKZN @ CUT Rugby Stadium
2015 FNB WITS 24-29 FNB UKZN @ Wits Rugby Stadium
2016 FNB WITS 39-2 FNB UWC @ Wits Rugby Stadium
2017 FNB UWC 45-2 FNB UFH @ UWC Stadium
2018 FNB UWC 55-10 FNB WSU @ UWC Stadium
2019 FNB MADIBAZ 28-32 FNB CPUT @ Madibaz Stadium