The fixtures for the 2015 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International have been released, with a replay of the epic 2014 final between FNB UCT and FNB NWU-Pukke on the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds in Potchefstroom lined up.
Ikeys snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on the same field in the final last season with a last gasp, injury time converted try that came after a drop kick charge down on the stroke of full time. The Ikeys counter attack and try that followed will long live on in Varsity Cup folklore as one of the tournament’s enduring moments – the comeback of all comebacks.
The two sides will face each other again in Round Five which will take place on Monday, March 9.
The opening round of the new season will feature replays of both the 2014 semifinals and once again promises much in terms of excitement-filled student rugby fueled by youthful flair and an attacking approach.
Defending champions FNB UCT will face their old Cape rivals FNB Maties at home on the Green Mile, whilst FNB NWU-Pukke will be up against the FNB NMMU Madibaz at the Fanie du Toit Sportsgrounds in Potchefstroom in the opening round on Monday, February 9.
Both semifinals in 2014 were won by the home side, with three-time champions Maties going down to the Ikeys and NWU-Pukke snatching a dramatic one-point victory over the Madibaz before going on to contest the memorable final which saw UCT score three tries in the last five minutes to claim their second title.
The other two matches in the opening round will both be in Bloemfontein as newly promoted Varsity Shield champions FNB CUT host FNB UJ and FNB UP-Tuks take on FNB UFS-Shimlas.
The Varsity Shield will get started a week earlier with the opening clashes between FNB UWC and FNB UKZN in Bellville and FNB TUT and FNB Fort Hare in Pretoria - both televised live on Supersport One on Monday, February 2.
The 2015 Varsity Shield season will see the return of FNB Wits, who did not manage to win a game in their two years in the Varsity Cup.
The FNB Varsity Young Guns and Steinhoff Koshuis rugby Championships will both get underway on Monday, February 23 with a big double-header at the CUT Rugby Stadium in Bloemfontein.
Reigning Young Guns champions UFS will be up against local rivals CUT, and Shimlas koshuis champions Steinhoff Vishuis taking on CUT's Steinhoff Tigers.
The finals of the Varsity Shield and Young Guns competitions will take place on Monday, April 6, whilst the Varsity Cup and Koshuis rugby Championship finals will be on Monday, April 13 with all four matches televised live on Supersport One.
