The 2024 FNB Varsity Cup will come full circle for FNB UFS Shimlas when they welcome FNB UCT Ikeys to Bloemfontein on Monday 22 April in what is set to be a thrilling final. Kick-off is at 19:00. The Shimlas secured their first final spot since 2015 when they beat five-time champions FNB Maties in Stellenbosch while Ikeys stunned defending champions FNB NWU Eagles in Potchefstroom. When the 2024 kicked off just over two months ago, it was the same two sides who clashed in the City of Roses, with the visitors from Cape Town carving out a hard-fought 38-32 win. The Shimlas’ only title nine years ago was thanks to an emphatic 63-33 victory over the Eagles. Ikeys previously lifted the trophy in 2011 and 2014, having played in four other finals, most recently finishing as runners-up last year. UFS star outside centre Zane Bester, who is likely to link up with the Cheetahs after the Varsity Cup, says winning the semi-final against the Maroon Machine in the Danie Craven Stadium was very special indeed. Their confidence now is high heading into a home final. “It was amazing to win the semi-final. I don't think there are words I can use to describe how together we felt as a team in winning it. “The last kick-off in the match, our captain Pierre Uys told us ‘Just do me a favour and win the last kick-off’ and we did it. So, I think we are ready, our confidence is high, but we are also very humble. “It's the first time in a very long time that Shimlas will be there, so we as the team of 2024 are privileged and we know what position we are into be able to play in the final.” It has been a brilliant season for Shimlas all around, with the FNB UFS Shimlas Young Guns who advanced to the 2024 FNB Young Guns final. They take on the FNB NWU Eagles Young Guns on Monday at 15:30, also in Bloemfontein.

UPDATE: VOTING IS NOW CLOSED AND THE RESULTS OF THE POLL AS OF 9PM ON 18 APRIL WILL DECIDE THE WINNER. With the FNB Varsity Cup 2024 playoffs stages currently underway it's that time of the season where we acknowledge and vote for the top players of the year. The FNB Varsity Cup coaches have nominated and now the public can weigh in and vote for who wins the 2023 overall FNB Varsity Cup Player That Rocks award, the FNB Back That Rocks and FNB Forward That Rocks award winners. As in previous years all eight FNB Varsity Cup head coaches were asked to nominate three players in each category and were not allowed to nominate a player from their own university. 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 in each category are now being put forward to the public, whose votes will determine the winner in each of the categories. You can cast your votes below from Monday 15 April until 9pm on Thursday 18 April and the winners will be the players with the most votes at the deadline. UPDATE: VOTING HAS ENDED AND SCREENSHOTS OF THE RESULTS TAKEN AT 9PM ON 18 APRIL WILL BE USED TO DECLARE THE WINNERS. The winners will be announced after the FNB Varsity Cup final on 22 April and they will receive a cheque powered by FNB eWallet. FNB Overall Player That Rocks - R10 000 FNB Back That Rocks - R7 500 FNB Forward That Rocks - R7 500

UPDATE: VOTING HAS ENDED AS OF 9PM ON 18 APRIL. With the Varsity Cup final upon us it's time that we focus the spotlight on the players who raised their hand and impressed with their debut performances. As the breeding ground for future rugby stars the tournament once again showcased the raw talent and determination of young players eager to make their mark. The prestigious Suzuki Rookie of the Year accolade will once again honour the most promising debut player of Varsity Cup 2024, recognizing their exceptional skill, dedication and potential to become a future rugby sensation. To qualify as a rookie, a player must have made his debut in 2024 and not taken the field previously in a Varsity Cup game. The coaches of all the Cup teams were asked to nominate outstanding players who made their debut this season and the three players with the most nominations 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 2024. Voting is now open to the public. Vote below for the player you think is the most deserving of this year's Suzuki Rookie Of The Year award. UPDATE: VOTING HAS ENDED AND SCREENSHOTS OF THE RESULTS TAKEN AT 9PM ON 18 APRIL WILL BE USED TO DECLARE A WINNER. You can cast your vote from Tuesday, 16 April until Thursday 18 April at 9pm. 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 22 April. The winner will receive R4 000 from Suzuki.

VOTING IS NOW CLOSED AND THE RESULTS OF THE POLL WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE JUDGES. With the FNB Varsity Shield and FNB Varsity Cup playoffs currently underway, it's time to decide who the #CheerleadersThatRock of 2024 will be! Throughout the season, the cheerleading squads at participating universities brought the heat and entertained the crowds in-stadium and those watching at home. In its second year, the Cheerleaders That Rock challenge continues to showcase the talent and energy of university cheerleading squads. Each squad was required to perform at their home games throughout the season, and to officially enter the competition, they recorded their best performance and submitted it to a judging panel and for public vote. Official judging will be conducted by the South Africa Majorettes and Cheerleading Association. The public will also get to cast a vote which will count towards the final decision by the judges. Below are the university cheerleading teams who submitted an official entry. Watch their entries and then vote in the poll for the squad you think should be the winner! Make sure to click 'See All Options' to view the full list. UPDATE: VOTING HAS ENDED AND SCREENSHOTS OF THE RESULTS TAKEN AT 1PM ON 18 APRIL WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE JUDGES TO DECLARE A WINNER. NO VOTES TAKEN AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. Voting ends on April 18th, 2024 at 1pm. While public votes are crucial, it's important to note that the final winner will be determined by both the public vote and SAMCA's official judging. So, every vote matters, but it's not solely the public voting that contributes to the overall winner. UPDATE: VOTING HAS ENDED AND SCREENSHOTS OF THE RESULTS TAKEN AT 1PM ON 18 APRIL WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE JUDGES TO DECLARE A WINNER.

FNB Madibaz will not deviate an inch from the strategy that has been the hallmark of their successful campaign in the 2024 FNB Varsity Shield competition when they clash with FNB Varsity College in the semi-final in Gqeberha on Friday 19 April. Kick-off is at 12:45. Captain Leon van der Merwe says they want to continue to trust the recipe that has brought them six consecutive victories. “The key pillars we have built during the season have been our commitment to working as a team, the understanding each player has of his role and our resilience in the face of challenges. “Whatever the situation we have been faced with we have mostly managed to show the grit and determination to turn the tide in our favour.” As they approach the semi-final, Van der Merwe says the sense of anticipation was “palpable” within the team as they want to showcase the fruits of their labour this season. At the same time, he warned against getting too worked up by the “sense of occasion”. “Keeping players from becoming too pumped before the match is essential for maintaining concentration and focus when we get onto the field. As a leader, you can achieve this by emphasising composure in the build-up and ensuring the players focus on the task at hand.” Madibaz were forced to withstand a ferocious fightback by Varsity College in their previous encounter, which they won 25-19 after leading 18-5 at halftime. That match gave them some valuable insight, the skipper says. “We’ve analysed their tactics, strengths and weaknesses and identified areas we can capitalise on and where we need to make adjustments to our game.” Van der Merwe says there has been an air of confidence and trust in one another during practice this week. He also doesn’t downplay the advantage of a home crowd. “Besides playing in familiar conditions, the support has been a powerful source of inspiration and motivation. It creates a vibrant atmosphere that uplifts the players.”

FNB Varsity College have been the surprise package in the 2024 FNB Varsity Shield competition, advancing to the semi-finals in their debut season. They take on FNB Madibaz on Friday 19 April. Kick-off is at 12:45. Captain Abande ‘AB’ Mthembu says his team is not surprised with where they find themselves. “It’s a testament to what coach (Jeremy) McLaren said at the beginning of the season, we are new to the competition but not (new) to the game of rugby.” Speaking on their preparations for Madibaz, Mthembu added their first encounter against the same opponents will be of great assistance as they learned lessons from the 19-25 defeat a fortnight ago. “The approach to our preparations won’t be too different, we’ll apply the things we learnt from the previous game. There’s no need to reinvent the wheel, just a couple of adjustments along with a heightened sense of focus”. Agreeing with his captain, coach Jeremy MacLaren also sang the praises of Madibaz coach David Manuel. “I think David Manuel is a really good coach, it was always hard for us to go there. I think we just started badly, we came back to fight hard but credit to Madibaz”. Having collected an important moral boosting away win in their last round-robin encounter against FNB WSU (37-18), McLaren believes a better start against Madibaz is what they need if they fancy their chances of advancing to the final in what has been a dream debut season. “I’m just grateful to be part of this season. I think we must start better than we did last time, it’s never easy. But I believe if we can get a better start than last time, we can try to keep them busy and see if we can get ourselves another away win”. by Mpendulo Letsoalo

FNB WSU have a mammoth task ahead of them as they prepare to face the undefeated FNB UP-Tuks in their 2024 FNB Varsity Shield semi-final match. Kick-off is on Friday 19 April at 15:00 at the Tuks Stadium in Pretoria. WSU head coach Mthembani Mkhokheli is backing his team to go toe-to-toe with their opposition and give a great account of themselves when it matters most. “We are not putting unnecessary pressure on ourselves ahead of this game because we know the type of players we have, and we know they are good enough to go all the way to win the competition. We have thus planned well and have gone through the right processes and covered all the problematic areas for us to be ready to face Tuks.” There are lessons to be learned from their round-robin encounter that WSU lost 17-40, says Mkhokheli. “In this competition, you must take lessons from all the challenges you’ve faced in each game. There are new challenges (for) a team to rise to the occasion and show growth and maturity in trying not to repeat the same mistakes. “ Captain Awonke Sondishe says to stand any chance against an unbeaten Tuks side, his team will need to execute the fundamentals adequately and put continuous pressure on the opposition. Characterising his side as a “fighting team“ itching to make a huge statement in Pretoria, Sondishe says he expects a tough encounter against the Stripe Generation who will be keen to put on a show for their home fans. “We must focus on ball retention, if we have the ball, then they can’t play. We however must use our ball possession and territory to accumulate points and hopefully cause a huge upset.” by Thando Cezula

High-flying FNB UP-Tuks are aiming to complete a double against FNB WSU in the second semi-final of the 2024 FNB Varsity Shield competition on Friday 19 April. Kick-off is at 15:00. When the two teams met earlier in the season in round 3, Tuks were victorious (40-17). Coach Dewey Swartbooi however believes the scoreline did not reflect how difficult it was for his side travelling to the Eastern Cape. This time they are ready to welcome WSU to Pretoria. “It’s going to be a tough, hard game … the Eastern Cape boys are very physical. In the group phase, they were one of the teams that gave us a run for our money. We need to just keep focusing on our processes and basics. “My boys are still a bit sore you know but they will be ready come Friday, after it is a semi-final and our approach the whole year has been ‘every game is a final’. Unfortunately, our scrumhalf Daimon O’Connell got injured because he is a crucial part of our squad make up so that is the only change.” With the exceptional season the Stripe Generation has had so far being the only unbeaten team, in-form outside flanker Cayno February says there is still room to improve. “I love playing in this competition, it brought my love for the game back. I get a lot of opportunities to showcase my talent. I’ve also grown so much confidence in this competition. Rugby has changed my life in so many ways, especially discipline and hard work.” February, who has also seen some action for the Bulls U21 side, says they have not been tested enough. “It was tough playing WSU in front of their home crowd, but we still walked away with the victory. This game will be on our home field, and we will focus on our plans. We will not give away sloppy penalties and will be accurate.” by Lehlogonolo Ditshego

The 2024 FNB Young Guns final (22 April) will be contested by FNB UFS Shimlas Young Guns and FNB NWU Eagles Young Guns after they respectively beat FNB Maties Young Guns and FNB UCT Ikeys Young Guns in the two semi-finals. FNB UFS SHIMLAS YOUNG GUNS 39 – 17 FNB MATIES YOUNG GUNS FNB UFS Shimlas Young Guns scored a convincing 39-17 win over FNB Maties Youngs in their semi-final clash in a wet and cold Bloemfontein. The Shimlas YG played the conditions a lot better with smart kicking by flyhalf Shaun Ray turning the visitors from the Cape around on numerous occasions, putting pressure on them that led to mistakes. The scoring was opened in the 11th minute when UFS fullback Gunter van Rensburg for his first try. He doubled the lead moments later after successfully chasing down a Ray grubber. Hooker Bukhosi Dhlamini got in on the action with a try off the back of a lineout maul following a penalty. Maties flanker Max du Pisani scored his team's first try just before the break, but the hosts held a 17-10 lead at half-time. Giddy opened the scoring in the second half with a penalty to make it a ten-point game before flanker Stephanus Linde who had a couple of strong carries, powered over for try number four. Maynard Kleynhans extended the hosts’ lead with a try after some sustained pressure. Shortly before the final whistle Maties centre Grant de Jager flew over for a try, but it was Henry Jonker who would have the final say for UFS after chasing down another clever kick and winning the foot race to dot down. To seal the deal, Ramon Uys who is the brother of the Shimlas captain Pierre Uys, landed a cheeky conversion for the 39-17 victory. SCORERS FNB UFS Shimlas Young Guns 39 (17) - Tries: Gunter van Rensburg (2), Bikhosi Dhlamini, Stephanus Linde, Maynard Kleynhans, Henry Jonker. Conversions: Shaun Ray (2), Ramon Uys. Penalties: Bradley Giddy. FNB Maties Young Guns 17 (10) – Tries: Max Du Pisani, Grant de Jager. Conversions: Eldridge Jack (2). Penalties: Eldridge Jack. TEAMS FNB UFS Shimlas Young Guns: Adriaan Johannes Van Niekerk, Bukhosi Dhlamini, Tebogo Junior Nkosi, Katlego Khumo Lobakeng, Marno Gray Stopforth, Stephanus Lourens Linde, Lasedi Kamogelo Jafta, Liam Chezney Shamburg, Christoffel Jacobus Visser, Bradley Giddy, Keehan Nahum Etson, Thomas Frederik Dreyer, Henry James Jonker, Benedictus Marion Claassen, Shaun Peter Ray. FNB Maties Young Guns: Pedri De Wet, Fumani Success Chauke, Hendrik Hermanus Lubbe, Luke Mervyn Swartz, Slabbert Maartens, Max Du Pisani, Tjaart Roelf Joubert, Caleb Luke Dreyden, Wilhelm Dempers Manus Meyer, Eldridge Lionell Jack, Jean-Paul Matthew Malgas, Rynhardt Van Der Linden, Grant De Jager, Lothan Landore Love, Leighthan Ryan Julies. FNB NWU EAGLES YOUNG GUNS 31 – 24 FNB UCT IKEYS YOUNG GUNS FNB NWU Eagles Young Guns defeated FNB UCT Ikeys Young Guns 31-24 in a close semi-final in Potchefstroom. Ikeys full back Monray Daars had the opportunity to open the score with a penalty. However, he would later get punished by Jamaine Dampies when the Eagles fullback scored a try from a brilliant solo run to give the home team the lead. The visitors were quick to respond with a try from close range by Ali-Amjad Osman-Bosch following a driving maul. Zack Serfontein powered through the Ikeys defence to restore the lead for the Eagles while Michael Mostert landed the conversion. A scrum near the Eagles’ posts saw Aidan Norris scoring the five-pointer for Ikeys, with Daars converting. The score at half-time was 12-all. Two brilliant tries by Eagles left-wing Angelo Daniels put the home side in control to make it 26-17. Hanro Venter added his name to the scoreboard to secure the victory that saw his team advance to the final. SCORERS FNB NWU Eagles Young Guns 31 (12) - Tries: Jamaine Dampies, Zack Serfontein, Angelo Daniels (2), Hanro Venter. Conversions: Michael Mostert (4). FNB UCT Ikeys Young Guns 24 (12) – Tries: Ali-Amjad Osman-Bosch, Aidan Norris, Monray Daars. Conversions: Monray Daars (2), Shaywan Blankenberg. TEAMS FNB NWU Eagles Young Guns: Devon Franco Windvogel, Hanro Venter, Jason Daniel Oosthuizen, Johannes Hendrik Van Der Merwe, Michael Jonathan Devy, Juan Baard, Aqeel De Bruyn, Stephen Seth Taylor, Zack Serfontein, Micheal John Mostert, Angelo Daniels, Pieter Coetzer, Ashwen Franklin Damons, Senekane Mmuse, Jamiane Dampies. FNB UCT Ikeys Young Guns: Ali-Amjad Osman-Bosch, Nicholas Van Schalkwyk, Alf Liam Holm, Emihle Jaxa, Conor Jack Gordon, Sisipo Mpaka, Thomas Francois De Lange, Aidan Daniel Norris, Cameron James Whitson, Olo Sopotela, Justin Damonze, Jamie Ricketts, Amahle Mazibuko, Sinengomso Brawen, Monray Daars.

The 2024 FNB Varsity Cup will be decided in Bloemfontein on Monday 22 April when FNB UFS Shimlas host FNB UCT Ikeys in this year’s final. Ikeys produced a sensational performance to beat defending champions FNB NWU Eagles in their semi-final while Shimlas were equally impressive in their victory over FNB Maties in the other semi-final. FNB UCT IKEYS 32 – 18 FNB NWU EAGLES FNB UCT Ikeys saw off FNB NWU Eagles 32-18 in a thrilling encounter at the Fanie du Toit Sports Ground in Potchefstroom. Ikeys began the game in a dominant fashion with left wing Ntokozo Makhaza landing a penalty in the first five minutes. A drop goal by the Eagles’ Zinedine Robinson made it even before Ntokozo Makhaza scored another penalty to restore the lead for the visitors. Tian Van Zyl scored the first try of the game to give the Eagles the lead for the first time in the game. Duran Koevort then responded for the Ikeys with a try before another Makhaza penalty handed UCT a 14-8 lead at half-time. The visitors began the second period in the same manner with Koevort’s second try and yet another penalty by Makhaza. Mpho Kubheka reduced the deficit with a try for NWU moments after coming on. A brilliant run by Rethabile Louw saw him distributing to Mika Schubert who scored in the corner for Ikeys. Calvin Clark scored a try in the dying minutes of the game for the Eagles but it was too late as yet another penalty by Makhaza sealed an emphatic victory for UCT. SCORERS FNB UCT Ikeys 32 (14) – Tries: Duran Koevort (2), Mika Schubert. Penalties: Ntokozo Makhaza (5). FNB NWU Eagles 18 (8) - Tries: Tian van Zyl, Mpho Kubheka, Calvin Clack. Drop Goal: Zinedine Robinson. FNB Player That Rocks: Reynhardt Crous (FNB UCT Ikeys) TEAMS FNB UCT Ikeys: Luthando Solomon Woji, Keagan Jordan Blanckenberg, John Kelly Ifechukwu Okonkwo, Reynhardt Wouter Crous, Johan Van Rhyn, Siphumezo Dyonase, Taariq Mohammed Kruger, Laro Delport, Asad Moos, Alexander Vermeulen, Ntokozo Sibusiso Makhaza, Jonathan Roche, Joshua Michael Boulle, Rethabile Donovan Louw, Duran Ryan Koevort. FNB NWU Eagles: Matome Molebogeng Manyama, Chyle Van Zyl, Ntobeko Thabiso Shezi, Stephan Krugel, Franco Marais, Hennie Du Randt, Tian Van Zyl, Marvelous Mashimbyi, Aphelele Emihle Madaka, Zinedine Robinson, Naiden Jaarts, Arnoldus Christiaan Vlok, Matthew Luke Fortuin, Joubert Schoeman, Luan Jacobus Van Der Walt. FNB UFS SHIMLAS 38 – 24 FNB MATIES FNB UFS Shimlas scored a convincing 38-24 win over FNB Maties at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch. The visitors from Bloemfontein were more accurate in their execution by outscoring the home side by five tries to four in ideal weather conditions. UFS dominated the first quarter of the game with their forwards and backs combining well to score two tries within the first 20 minutes of the game. The first was a point-of-origin try when fleet-footed fullback Michael Annies crossed over in the corner after 15 minutes. Four minutes later left wing Asanda Kunene crossed over in the opposite corner to give his side a 12-0 lead. Maties coach Kabama Floors had some harsh words to say at the strategy break after 20 minutes. The home side's forwards started to assert themselves up front. After a few driving mauls, big lock forward Matthys Kitshoff drove over for Maties first five-pointer. Flyhalf Juan Mostert added the extras to reduce the deficit to 12-7 in favour of the visitors at half-time. Maties immediately hit back from the kick-off after a sniping break by centre Aydon Topley who floated the ball into the hand of left-wing Ezekiel Ngobeni who crossed for the home side's second try. Mostert slotted the conversion from the touchline to narrow the score to 15-12. Shimlas winger Kunene then showed his pace by crossing over for his second with Wentzel coolly slotting the conversion to give his side a 22-12 lead. The visitors started to show their dominance after the strategy break when replacement Cornelius Volschenk sliced through the middle of the Maties defence to score another try which was converted by Wentzel to stretch the lead to 29-12. Maties showed character by fighting back through an Aydon Topley try. crossed over in the corner. In the final 10 minutes, the Maroon Machine went into overdrive sensing the time starting to run out. They had no option but to throw the ball around. UFS outside centre Zane Bester intercepted the ball against the run of play and ran the length of the field to score a converted try to make the score 38-17 in favour of the visitors from Bloemfontein. Maties scored a consolation try by replacement Ammaar Burton in the dying minutes to make the final score 38-24. SCORERS FNB UFS Shimlas 38 (12) - Tries: Michael Annies, Asanda Kunene (2), Cornelius Volschenk, Zane Bester. Conversions: Ethan Wentzel (2). Penalties: Ethan Wentzel. FNB Maties 24 (7) – Tries: Matthys Kitshoff, Ezekiel Ngobeni, Aydon Topley, Ammaar Burton.  Conversions: Juan Mostert (2). FNB Player That Rocks: Asanda Kunene (FNB UFS Shimlas) TEAMS FNB UFS Shimlas: Ntokozo Hlophe, Liyema Mgwigwi, Francisco Dos Reis, Reinier Juan Martin Viljoen, John Raymond Stopforth, Sobe Siyambuka Nakhane Ningiza, Pierre-Raymond Freddie Uys, Kwezi Dlamini, Jandre Nel, Ethan SJ Wentzel, Asanda Sihle Kunene, Gideon Jooste Nel, Zane Bester, Siviwe Zondani, Michael Jnr Kurt Annies. FNB Maties: Prince Rotondwa Mulea, Siyasanga Ngubelanga, Friedrich Cornelius Weilbach, Matthys Jacobus Bernardus Kitshoff, Matthew Andrew Gray, Fortune Ntokozo Mpofu, Jacobus Adriaan Louw Nel, Dewet Marais, McKyle Volmoer, Juan Mostert, Ezekiel Mzamane Ngobeni, Aydon Colin Topley, Ryan Marcus Manuel, Louis Johannes Du Preez, Hofmeyr Gideon Retief.

FNB UP-Tuks will host FNB WSU in Pretoria and FNB Madibaz are at home in Gqeberha against FNB Varsity College in the semi-finals of the 2024 FNB Varsity Shield. The action is set for Friday 19 April. Here are some of the standout players from round 7. Jean-Pierre Wentzel (FNB UP-Tuks) The Stripe Generation finished top of the Varsity Shield log and will therefore return to the FNB Varsity Cup competition. They left the best for last, beating FNB Madibaz in their last round-robin match. Jean-Pierre Wentzel played a pivotal role in controlling their attack and executed the game plan to perfection. His aim was also on target, landing eight conversions in the try fest. High School: Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool Provincial Representation: Provincial U20/21 Mandisi Nkutha (FNB Varsity College) Varsity College surprised all and sundry with their top-four finish in their debut season in the Varsity Shield. Eight-man Mandisi Nkutha led his team's forward assault in the victory over FNB WSU with a hard-hitting performance. In what was a clinical performance, Nkutha carried the ball over the advantage line on numerous occasions. High School: Hoërskool Noordheuwel Provincial Representation: U13 Craven Week, U16 Grant Khomo Week, Provincial U19, Provincial U20/21 Thando Cele (FNB UKZN) It was touch and go until the last second, but UKZN managed to squeeze out a narrow win against FNB CPUT in their last round-robin match of the tournament. The diminutive Thando Cele was a star for the KZN team, using his small stature and speed well. He was good at directing and shifting the tempo of the game. High School: Curro Hillcrest High School Provincial Representation: IPT 2018 & 2019 (Sharks Youth Club) Aswen Rademeyer (FNB TUT) The season didn’t go according to plan for TUT with the Pretoria-based team finishing bottom of the log. Despite only one victory and defeat in their last game against FNB UFH, Aswen Rademeyer put in a solid performance. He kept his side in contention, converting four out of four penalties while at the same time also kicking for territory. High School: Hoërskool Overkruin Provincial Representation: U16 Grant Khomo Week, U18 Academy Week, Eastern Province u/15 and Eastern Province u/15s For a full fixture list, click HERE.

If it’s up to FNB NWU Eagles, they will make it three out of three against FNB UCT Ikeys when the two sides meet tonight in the second semi-final of the 2024 FNB Varsity Cup at the Fanie du Toit Sports Ground in Potchefstroom. Kick-off is at 19:00. The defending champions beat the Ikey Tigers in last year’s final (27-25) and a week ago ran out 30-18 victors over their opponents from the Cape in their last round-robin match. Eagles' tighthead prop Mpho Kubheka says it’s business as usual for the Eagles and they will prepare for the game the same way they prepare for other games. “The team feels good, we’re in good condition and we were expecting to win (last week) and face Ikeys again. We’ve played them a few times; we know how to prepare for them, and we won’t prepare differently. We take every week the same, train as hard as we can and control what we can so on Monday we will make sure we do what we need to do.” Flanker Marvelous Mashimbyi highlights the need for his team to step up. “It’s going to be a tough game; it won’t be easy, and they will come for us … We must work together as a team and keep up with our solid defence because we’re playing against a good attacking side.” There were lessons to be learned from their previous match against UCT, says flyhalf Zinedine Robinson. “I think they are a very good side; I think the strength we have is our pack of forwards and back line. I feel we have a good maul and scrum as well. The thing we learned the most is that they never stop playing rugby, no matter what the score is. They never go lie down no matter what and that just motivates us to also not stop playing.” Forward Jason Jansen believes it will all come down to the crowd. “It’s always tough for opposition teams to come and play here because our crowd is always behind us and playing here gives us more energy. Coach Burger always says, ‘We don’t mess up in our backyard’, so we must protect it with pride.” by Lesiba Dikhoba