Vote for the Suzuki Rookie of Varsity Cup 2026!

With the semi-finals taking place this Monday, 6 April we will soon find out which FNB Varsity Cup teams will advance and fight it out to see who will be crowned champions, but before we get there it's that time of the tournament where we focus on the outstanding players who made their debut this season and have been nominated for the Suzuki Rookie of the Year award!

To qualify as a rookie, a player must have made his debut in the 2026 Varsity Cup tournament. The coaches of all 8 teams were asked to nominate three players who made the biggest impact in their debut this season. The nomination process is weighted with first position worth three points, second position two points and third position one point. The votes were then added up and the three players with the most points are now being put to a public vote.

Here are the three players who received the most nominations from the coaches for the Suzuki Rookie of Varsity Cup 2025. The public can now cast their votes from Monday 6 April until 9.30 am on Friday 10 April and the winner will be the nominee with the most votes at the deadline.

UPDATE: Voting has closed. No more votes will be taken into account after the 9.30am deadline on Friday 10 April.

Suzuki Rookie of the Year 2026

• Chijindu Okonta (FNB Emeris)
• Jack Benade (FNB UCT)
• Thabang Mphafi (FNB UJ)

UPDATE: Voting has closed. No more votes will be taken into account after the 9.30am deadline on Friday 10 April.

The winner will be the player with the most votes at the deadline and will be announced after the FNB Varsity Cup final on the 13 April and will receive a cash prize from Suzuki.

#WhosNXT