Ikey Tigers target back-to-back FNB Varsity Cup titles

FNB UCT Ikeys finally got the monkey off their back at the third time of asking by winning the 2025 FNB Varsity Cup. Backed into a corner with 15 minutes to go at the home of their fierce rivals, FNB Maties, the men from Cape Town dug deep to score two tries and stun their Western Cape rivals.

FNB UCT head coach Robbie Fleck says winning the 2025 title was not only about winning, but about how they won it.

“Our style has been our purpose. The way we play. The Ikey way. Once the players understood it and believed in the way we wanted to play, regardless of the result, we knew we were going to be there at the end and competing for that title.”

Indeed, the Ikey Tigers will be contenders in 2026 and have their sights set on defending their title.

Fleck and his charges will have a massive target on their back from the start of the campaign. They know that the rest of the chasing pack will have that something extra when lining up against the Varsity Cup champions and will need to wear that tag like a badge of honour.

Despite several key players departing at the end of the season Fleck remains excited for the 2026 season and what comes next.

“We would like to go back-to-back and be the first UCT team to ever achieve that. Our campaign this year is to be braver in everything we do. A braver UCT team is an even more dangerous one.”

Three finals in as many years is no small achievement, and UCT have the depth, experience, and belief to push for a remarkable fourth straight final. They’ve been contenders in each of the last three seasons and winning last season’s title will elevate their belief and take their overall game to greater heights – that’s the hope from an Ikey Tiger’s point of view.

Ikeys captain, Enos Ndiao, says that he and his team have been hard at work during pre-season with the aim of going back-to-back.

“We’ve got one goal and the goal is to go back-to-back. So, for us, there’s been no complacency in our camp because going back-to-back would be history,” he said.

“I think this season is really about being braver in everything we do – in our Ikeys style which is our unique DNA”

It all kicks off on the road at Tuks Stadium for the defending champions who will need to shine under the bright lights in Pretoria. They face an FNB UP-Tuks outfit who are ready to test themselves against the best and put the champions on the back foot from the opening fixture.

FNB UCT Ikeys squad:

Eric Chris Basson, Tom Barnard, Matthew Beckett, Jack Andy Benade, Keagan Blanckenberg (vice-captain), Shaywan Blanckenberg, Lukhanyiso Bomela, Seth Bradford, Sinengomso Braweni, Bruce Campbell, Anele Cele, Nashe Chahwahwa, Jacques Roux Cloete, Monray Daars, Aden Da Costa, Thomas De Lange, Adam De Waal, Ryan Du Rand, Kian Davis, Lezane Davis, Thomas Davis, Carl Geddie, Tyrone Gombe, Connor Gordon, Carlyle Hawkins, Sylvester Daniel Hoffman, Devon Jearey, Mhleli Khuzwayo, James Krobrowisky, Luke Kritzinger, Johan Lombard, Isaiah Louw, Amahle Mazibuko, Olunje Melhlomakhulu, Joshua Miller, Unaye Mndau, Setshaba Mokoena, Sesethu Mpaka, Sisipho Mpaka, Enos Kyle Ndiao (captain), Tumelo Ovayo Noah, Aidan Norris, Xola Nyali, Meyer Prinsloo, Codi Robinson, Nkosi Siyanda, Alexander Smith, Nicholas Van Schalkwyk, Alexander Vermeulen, Compion Von Ludwig, Tian Vorster, Cameron Whitson, Phikolomzi Zuka, Siphiwosethu Zungu.

By: Kieryn Thompson