FNB Maties will be relying on their internal depth to guide them to recreate the glory of the successful 2008, 2009 and 2010 campaigns for the 2015 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International. Despite missing out on the final last year, coach Chris Rossouw is excited about the upcoming campaign after his fairly young side were crowned champions in their league campaign. "I'm very excited about the young guys coming through. They were given the chance in the league, due to injuries to senior players, and we ended up winning the league with them. A lot of guys put their hands up and showed they are ready to play Varsity Cup," he told varsitycup.co.za. Rossouw views the Varsity Cup as their main priority as Maties have a winning culture within them and have learned valuable off-field lessons which will transferred onto the field. "We have learnt a lot of lessons, most of them off the field, in order to make sure we play better on the field. We will be placing huge emphasis on our preparation and that all our boxes are ticked off. It's won't only be rugby focused because there are other factors as well. "The main lessons we learned is to play in the moment and make sure we attack space. We have worked hard on that to put it in place. We showed progression in slowly-but-surely putting our processes in place so that we are able to build a sustainable model. "For us, it's about the Varsity Cup and winning at Maties is the only thing. So although we had a successful season in the league, our main thing is winning the Varsity Cup. We are a very proud club and would like to go get that prize," he added. Maties will be losing the likes of: Mark Hodgskiss, Jacobus Jordaan, Clearance Themba Khumalo, Caleb Smith, Jan de Klerk and Robert du Preez but Rossouw remains upbeat about the amount of talented young players coming through. "We have been blessed with a good group and what we did this year is that we gave everyone within the club an opportunity to get selected for the squad. We are looking to bring in one or two guys from outside our structures but we still awaiting confirmation. "Looking internally, though, there are a lot of new guys with great talent that will come in and we are really excited for next year. Going forward, we need to build a sustainable model and that can only be done from within. "We have the talent here and we are putting the systems in place to develop the talent we have so that they are given opportunities to play Varsity Cup. "If we are fortunate enough to get one or two post-grads, then obviously we will do so, but for us, it's very important to develop the talent we have so that we show the guys we believe in them and have proof our systems are working. We have put a lot of time into that over the last year and I think it will all fall into place in the near future," he stated. Although Rossouw is uncertain about who will join his technical, as there are still positions yet to be filled, he will be definitely be joined by Adri Badenhorst, Marius Hurter and Andre Smith. "Adri is one of the best line-out coaches I know and he will continue his good work. Marius is well-known for scrumming knowledge and everything there is to know about scrums in general. "Andre Smith will remain our conditioning coach and there a few guys who still need to be confirmed but we will be getting a mental coach involved as well," he said.

The 2014 Currie Cup final between Western Province and the Golden Lions will be a hallmark for the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International fraternity. The match will feature no less than 27 Varsity Cup alumni of the 44 match day players. The home side, Western Province, will have 11 players in their match day 22 who have participated in the Varsity Cup while the Golden Lions will have an impressive 16 players in their match day squad. The greatest advertisement for the Varsity Cup during the Currie Cup campaign is the young Lions hooker Armand (Akker) van der Merwe. Van der Merwe has been an absolute standout for Jozi’s Pride in the Currie Cup, and has grabbed the plaudits and the headlines for his hustle and bustle brand of rugby. It is no surprise then that Van der Merwe still played for the NWU-Pukke in the Varsity Cup at the beginning of the year. Young Akker struck form for the men from Potchefstroom during their Varsity Cup season, and has carried that form straight on to the Currie Cup stage. The Varsity Cup was thus a perfect springboard for the youngster to launch his professional career. Akker, however, is not alone in launching his career from the platform of the Varsity Cup. As already mentioned an expected 27 players in Saturday’s Currie Cup groomed their games on the famous playing fields of the Varsity Cup. For Western Province, hooker Niel Rautenbach was a standout for UCT during their victorious campaign this year. The fact that Rautenbach is able to perform so well for Western Province is a testament to the quality of the Varsity Cup. Fellow UCT alumni in the Province squad include: Dynamic No 8 Nizaam Carr (2011), ace flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis (2011) and scrumhalf Nic Groom (2010-2011). As can be expected the all-conquering Maties maroon machine provided a fair spread of players for the two squads. For Western Province flyhalf Kurt Coleman (2011), skipper and centre Juan de Jongh (2008-2009), scrumhalf Louis Schreuder (2010), centre Michael van der Spuy (2011) and prop Alistair Vermaak (2011-2013), all donned the famed maroon jersey. Other Varsity Old-boy’s include speedy winger Seabelo Senatla, who ran out for the Central University of Technology in the Varsity Shield and centre Jaco Taute, who donned the orange of UJ. The Lions can call upon ex-Maties fullback Ruan Combrinck (2011) to strengthen their side as well as lock Martin Muller who donned the UCT jersey from 2008-2011. Some of the Lions other Varsity Cup alumni’s include: flanker Derick Minnie (UJ – 2008), centre Howard Mnisi (NMMU – 2012-2013), lock Francois Mostert (Tuks – 2010-2012), flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff (Tuks – 2009-2011), loose forward Willie Britz (Shimlas – 2008-2012), hooker Robbie Coetzee (Tuks – 2010 – 2011), prop Ruan Dreyer (UJ – 2011-2012), flanker Jaco Kriel (UJ – 2012), winger Courtnall Skosan (Tuks – 2012-2013), flanker Warwick Tecklenburg (Tuks – 2008-2011), prop Schalk van der Merwe (Shimlas – 2012-2013), utility back Jaco van der Walt (UJ – 2014) and centre Harold Vorster (UJ – 2014). The amount of Varsity Cup graduates expected to be in action in the Currie Cup final is no surprise, when the contribution of the Varsity Cup is considered. The tournament has become a stepping stone of such magnitude that one could hardly believe a player could enter the professional ranks without first displaying their wares for their various universities. The Varsity Cup players expected to play on Saturday is, of course, not exclusive to these two sides. In any given Currie Cup team a vast amount of players would have been groomed by the essential competition. The teams: Western Province: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Juan de Jongh (captain)(Maties 2008, 2009), 12 Jaco Taute (UJ 2010), 11 Seabelo Senatla (CUT 2012, 2013), 10 Demetri Catrakilis (UCT 2011), 9 Nic Groom (UCT 2010, 2011), 8 Nizaam Carr (UCT 2011), 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Alistair Vermaak (Maties 2011, 2012, 2013). Replacements: 16 Neil Rautenbach (UCT 2013, 2014) , 17 Brok Harris, 18 Gerbrandt Grobler, 19 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 20 Louis Schreuder (Maties 2010), 21 Kurt Coleman (Maties 2011), 22 Michael van der Spuy (Maties 2011). Golden Lions: 15 Jaco van der Walt (UJ 2014), 14 Ruan Combrinck (Maties 2011), 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi (NMMU 2012, 2013), 11 Courtnall Skosan (TUKS 2012, 2013), 10 Marnitz Boshoff (TUKS 2009, 2010, 2011), 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Derick Minnie (UJ 2008), 6 Jaco Kriel (UJ 2012), 5 Franco Mostert (TUKS 2010, 2011, 2012), 4 Martin Muller (UCT 2008, 2009, 2010), 3 Ruan Dreyer (UJ 2011, 2012), 2 Robbie Coetzee (TUKS 2010, 2011), 1 Schalk van der Merwe (Shimlas 2012, 2013). Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe (NWU-Pukke 2013, 2014), 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Julian Redelinghuys, 19 Willie Britz (Shimlas 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012), 20 Warwick Tecklenburg (TUKS 2008, 2010, 2011), 21 Mark Richards, 22 Harold Vorster (UJ 2014).

Defending FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International champions FNB UCT will not change much as they bid to retain their title next year. The Cape side claimed their second Varsity Cup title in sensational style earlier this year, scoring three tries in the last five minutes in Potchefstroom to come back from the dead and stun FNB NWU-Pukke in the final. Ikeys coach Kevin Musikanth says that they have good continuity both in the playing squad and coaching staff, so they will not be deviating too far from what worked so well for them in 2014. "I think the approach to the campaign will be the same in theory, but the manner in which we do things or approach each game will be different. "The best campaign management is controlling the things that you can control, so that is what we have really got to concentrate on and the results should look after themselves," he told varsitycup.co.za. Musikanth has lost the services of a few key players who have gone on to become professional rugby players, but has managed to retain the core of the squad which lifted the trophy in Potchefstroom. "We have got a nice squad together and most of them are from last year, so we have retained a lot of the guys and we have also got a strong group of youngsters coming in so I think our Young Guns will be stronger too which is great. "Dean Grant, Vince Jobo, Shaun Mcdonald and Neil Rautenbach are all playing provincial rugby and Liam Slatem has gone to Hong Kong. "Those are significant losses but otherwise we have managed to retain everyone else," he said. The coaching staff also remains in place with former Bok hooker Hanyani Shimange taking the forwards, former Sharks utility back Clinton van Rensburg in charge of the backline, experienced scrum 'doctor' Paul Day handling the set-pieces and Tom Dawson-Squibb back to handle the mental side of the game which proved so vital in their comeback victory in Potchefstroom. Musikanth said that it is encouraging to have the same support staff in place as they will have a target on their backs as defending champions. "Shimmy [Shimange] and I developed a very strong coaching relationship this year which was our first year working together. He brought a hard edge to our pack and we complemented each other nicely so I am excited to work with him again. "Tom [Dawson-Squibb] played a very big role and very much a supportive role for me. It was my first year and he was great as a mentor and a friend really. "Paul [Day] has been there from the very first Varsity Cup, and he did wonders with our scrum this year. He is absolutely passionate about the scrum, the funny thing about him is that he will say that anything outside of nine he doesn't worry about. Everything else is white noise to him, he just concentrates on the pack," Musikanth explained. The enlarged UCT training squad is currently undergoing a conditioning phase in the gym, with a tour to Johannesburg planned for mid-January as they build up to their title defence. "We have started our conditioning in the gym, and we are pretty much following the same pattern as last year. "We are going to camp in Joburg in the middle of January, we have got a game set up against Impala Plats who are the national club champs and we are also going to have a contested type training against Wits. "We have also got some chukka-type warm-up games against Hamiltons and False Bay lined up," said Musikanth. The Ikeys mentor is expecting a tough season, and said that they are intent on improving on the way they performed in 2012 when they finished down in seventh place as defending champions. "There will definitely be added pressure, for any side that is defending a title there is always pressure. "There is added pressure and it is something that we didn't handle well in 2012, which is something that we need to learn from. "With a guy like Tom [Dawson-Squibb] looking after the psyche of the campaign and mentorship from Professor Tim Noakes hopefully we won't run into the same problems," he said. He added that they will be out to create the same environment in the squad which served them so well this year, and stressed the need to leave no stone unturned in their preparations. "The one thing we can take from the last campaign is the value of never giving up, playing until the end, giving everything you have got and believing that whatever is meant to be will be. "If we do that, it will be more of a success than saying 'we have to win every single rugby match'. "We are no different in wanting to retain our trophy than any other team in the Varsity Cup. It now comes down to who prepared the best, who recruited the best and who has looked after their squad the best," he said.

Springbok duo Lood de Jager and Damian de Allende both credit coming through the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International as a vital stepping stone on their way to the national side. Both players were playing Varsity Cup recently as 2012, with Stormers utility back De Allende representing the FNB Ikey Tigers and Cheetahs lock De Jager playing for the NWU-Pukke Young Guns team. However, it did not take long for either player to make their way through the ranks, with De Allende playing in the 2012 Currie Cup final for Western Province and De Jager getting his Super Rugby call-up from the Cheetahs in 2013 before both were brought into the Bok squad by coach Heyneke Meyer this year. De Jager, who scored two tries in his first Test start against Scotland in June, said that the experience of playing in the Varsity Young Guns competition had been a key stepping stone for him. "The Young Guns is a good competition to test yourself against the best guys your age and it is a great stepping stone to later play senior Varsity Cup, provincial rugby and hopefully one day for the Springboks," he told varsitycup.co.za. The lanky lock added that his time in Potchefstroom had been important for his development as a person and as a rugby player. "I think Pukke is a great place to start your rugby career, they have great facilities, great coaches, and they give you a chance to study full-time. "I just want to thank Pukke for everything they have done for me in my rugby career and I wish them well for the Varsity Cup," he added. For De Allende, who played at centre and wing for the Ikeys before going on to do the same for the Stormers, Varsity Cup gave him vital exposure. "I think that playing for UCT in the Varsity Cup was probably the perfect platform for me because that's where I got my first opportunity and exposure to rugby at a competitive level and for that I will always be thankful. "It was an awesome experience and it's been a big stepping stone going forward in my career," he said. De Allende added that he still carries valuable lessons learned playing at UCT with him today. "The experience of playing Varsity rugby taught me to always enjoy myself and the friendships I built are still on going. We also had this motto at UCT ‘of being better people’ and that still contributes to the person I am today," he said.

The 2014 Steinhoff University of KwaZulu-Natal Campus League finalists have been confirmed. The College of Humanities won the Howard College pool last week and Steinhoff Purple Haze sewed up the Pete Booysen pool. These two teams will now meet in the winner-takes-all Grand Final. The Grand Final will take place this Friday (3 October) at Peter Booysen Park in Pietermaritzburg and is scheduled to kick off at 7pm. There is much student interest in the final and a large crowd is expected. Supporters are requested to get there early to avoid congestion.

Steinhoff Nadoes and Steinhoff Cobras will go at it one more time to determine who will represent UCT at the Steinhoff Koshuis rugby Championship. It's another showdown between the perennial powerhouses of UCT and Steinhoff Nadoes will look to get the better of Steinhoff Cobras who represented UCT at the Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Champs last year. Steinhoff Cobras clinched a narrow 10-7 victory over Steinhoff Knights to book their spot in the September 23 final while Steinhoff Nadoes cruised into the final with a resounding 40-0 victory over Steinhoff Cats The victories have set up a classic encounter for the title while the losing semifinalists will play each other in the 3rd/4th playoff. In the reserve league, Steinhoff CVU Vikings walked away 20-14 winners against Steinhoff Turtles to set up a final against Steinhoff Saints who beat Steinhoff Ikhaya 31-5 in their semifinal. Tuesday, September 23 Reserve League 3rd/4th Playoff Steinhoff Turtles vs Steinhoff Ikhaya 18.00 Reserve League Final Steinhoff Saints vs Steinhoff CVU Vikings 20.00 A-League 3rd/4th Playoff Steinhoff Knights vs Steinhoff Cats 19.00 A-League Final Steinhoff Nadoes vs Steinhoff Cobras 20.00

The 2014 Steinhoff UKZN Campus League has been characterised by some enthralling rugby and great support from the student base with derby matches often attracting cheerleaders, local DJs and large crowds, including celebrity spectators such as SARU president, Oregan Hoskins, himself a UKZN alumnus. In the Pete Booysen pool it is now a two horse race between the digs team, Steinhoff Purple Haze and the William O'Brien Hall-based Steinhoff AmaSosha. The 2012 champions, the Steinhoff Varsity Drifters and last year's winners the Steinhoff Agric Stags have already dropped valuable log points and look to be out of contention. Steinhoff Denison Residence and Steinhoff Cedara have played some entertaining matches, but they too are unlikely to progress, with the Haze and AmaShosha now tied at the top of the log, and due to face each other on Friday night. In the Howard College Pool, the College of Humanities thrashed the uncharacteristically weak Steinhoff Engineers 71-5 in the opening round and looked to be the top contenders, before suffering a last minute 21-15 loss to Steinhoff Housing. Humanities did redeem themselves later on against Steinhoff Westville, who had previously recorded an impressive 16-10 win over the Housing students. In last week's round the vastly improved Engineers were level pegging with Housing with just a few minutes remaining, but the Housing students managed to score in the last minute to secure a vital win which elevates them to tied first on the log, alongside Westville and the College of Humanites. There is now all to play for in both groups as the final round pool games approach. By Mark Schulze

The Steinhoff Medics added the Steinhoff Shield to their league winners trophy when they edged Masakhane 15-13 in the Steinhoff Wits Internal Rugby League final at Wits rugby stadium on Wednesday. It was evident from the resolute and robust defence displayed by both teams that the final was never going to be a high scoring affair and the first score came in the 20th minute when Medics scrumhalf Jonathan Stols crossed the try-line after some good pressure from the Medics forwards. The conversion was missed and Masakhane bounced back almost immediately through centre Nish Govender whose unconverted try levelled the scores. The score remained 5-5 until shortly before half-time when flying winger Daniel Roque sprinted almost the entire length of the field to dot down under the posts. Centre Charl Bosman slotted the conversion and Medics went into the hut holding a 13-5 lead. A rousing second half produced the same determined tackling by both teams and it took a gem of a try from quicksilver Masakhane scrumhalf Ryan "Silent Bob" Kruger in the 62nd minute to unlock the Medics defence. Flyhalf Greg Blom added the two points and at 13 points apiece it was game on with the possibility of extra time looming. Bosman had other ideas however and with the referee checking his stopwatch the player of the season unleashed a peach of a drop goal from close to the touchline, breaking Masakhane hearts and sealing the victory for the young Doctors.

Lank mag die vorstehuis van Patria staan. Dié manskoshuis van die Noordwes-Universiteit se Potchefstroomkampus kan nou met reg die onbetwiste koshuiskrag in Noordwes genoem word na Henry Stewart se troepe onlangs hul tweede agtereenvolgende Steinhoff Koshuisliga-titel ingepalm het. Patria het De Wilgers 19-12 op die Fanie du Toit-sportterrein geklop en sodoende welverdiend sjampanje geproe ná hulle vroeër vanjaar in die eindstryd van die nasionale koshuisliga teen Heimat van Kovsies verloor het. Drie eindstryde in een jaar en twee trofeë. Dis mos nou iets. Waar De Wilgers in die verlede met ’n verwoede aanslag in die eerste 20-minute gekom het, het Patria die bordjies in die eindstryd verhang en die tempo net duskant windhond gehou. “Ons was halftyd net 5-0 voor, maar ek kon nie vir die ouens sê om anders te speel nie. Alles wat hulle gedoen het, was reg, ek het geweet die punte sal kom,” vertel Stewart, Patria se breier. As daar vir ’n keerpunt in die wedstryd gestem moet word, sal ses-flank Berto Kleynhans se heldedade net voor halftyd loshande wen. Met De Wilgers begeesterend op die aanval, en op Patria se doellyn, het Kleynhans die bal uit ’n teenstander se greep gepluk net toe dié wou druk. De Wilgers kon skaars vrae: “Hoe de...” halftydfluitjie blaas. Dit het die loop van die wedstryd verander en van hier af het die Blou masjien nie weer terug gekyk nie. Vir Stewart en sy span was die seisoen wel alles behalwe maanskyn en rose. ’n Paar van sy meer seniormanne het nie die mas opgekom nie en hy moes noodgedwonge sy span ’n jongbloedinspuiting gee. Op ’n stadium het Patria vyfde op die algehele punterleer gelê; ’n situasie wat selfs Lasarus sou laat moed opgee het. Bonuspunte, en nie ’n bietjie nie, was nodig om die uitspeelrondes te haal. Wat doen Patria toe? Wel, hulle gaan staan en maak 12-ligapunte in net twee wedstryde bymekaar deur vir Caput en Heimat af te slag. In ’n klipharde halfeindstryd was dit rateltaai Villagers wat die loef afgesteek het en toe, die laaste hekkie. Hoe sou die rekordboeke hierdie span van Stewart onthou? “Ek het vir ’n vir die jong ouens in die span gesê jou word ’n held as jy die Koshuisliga wen en ek het vir die ou manne (waarvan vyf die koshuis vanjaar verlaat) gesê jou word ’n legende as jy hom twee keer na mekaar wen,” vertel Stewart. Legendes en helde, dít is hoe hierdie Patria-span onthou sal word. Deur Bertie Jacobs

Steinhoff Mopanie will be the face of UP-Tuks in the Steinhoff Koshuisrugby Championships next year after they defeated arch-rivals Steinhoff Maroela in a tense final. The first XV league showed that the decades old rivalry between Steinhoff Mopanie and Steinhoff Maroela is alive and well. Present and past students with their families as well as parents and girlfriends came to watch the final and no-one was disappointed with the type of hard rugby that was played. With two minutes to go in the match, Maroela held a 13-9 lead but Mopanie showed their experience of playing finals rugby by scoring a late try which was duly converted to hand them a 16-13 win to be crowned 2014 UP-Tuks Koshuis champions. It looked like the old days of koshuis rugby which saw the Tuks Stadium and sidelines filled to the brim with spectators. Lively music and support contributed to an electric atmosphere and the teams proved why they were playing in the various finals. In the Under-20 final, Steinhoff Sonop showed they have the players of the future of koshuisrugby when they easily beat Steinhoff Maroela 32-18. Steinhoff AOB walked away victors of the 2nd XV league when they beat Steinhoff Groenkloof TigersB 16-13 in a tough game. The last game for the Steinhoff Tuks Koshuis players will be on September 20 when the Steinhoff Tuks Koshuis Barbarians take on their UJ counterparts at Loftus Versfeld.

FNB UCT won their final WP Super League game against the Victorians, but came up just short of the title claimed by FNB Maties. The 2014 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International champions won 71-20 against Victorians in Stellenbosch, but Maties’ bonus point 27-25 win over Hamiltons in the final round of the competition enabled them to move into first place and consequently bring home the cup. The overall log point difference was slight, UCT finishing up with 64, while Maties brought in 65 log points. However, given the Ikey’s massive performance in the tournament, they topped their Cape rivals in points scored 632 – 560. The disparity between the two sides was UCT’s fiercely fought 18-19 loss to Stellenbosch away from home in the first half of the league. In the tie-breaker game, a last-gasp penalty try awarded to Maties was the difference between a win and a loss for the Ikeys. Ikey’s coach Kevin Musikanth was nostalgic as he looked back on the 2014 year of rugby for his team. “The magical year of 2014 is something that if there was way, we could all bottle and hang on our mantle piece. To pick up and relive anytime we choose,” he said. Most significant was their 2014 Varsity Cup win, a final in which they scored 24 points in five minutes to come back from the dead and seize the victory from FNB NWU-Pukke’s hands. “When the curtain closes on 2014 the record books will show that we shocked the Varsity Cup and lifted the trophy. We were outliers, with two captains and real students,” he said. “We were human. We went down to Stellenbosch in the league making us examples of the sport, that through adversity comes lesson and through lesson comes heart," he said.

FNB Maties coach Chris Rossouw was proud of the character his side showed to fight back in their crucial final WP Super League game against Hamilton's to claim the title. The Stellenbosch students had trailed at half-time, but scored two tries in the second half and held on for a tense 27-25 victory. That win ensured that they finished the season one log point ahead of Cape FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International rivals FNB UCT. Rossouw was particularly pleased with the mental strength his side showed to fight back after going behind early on. "We conceded a try in the first minute and then let in another soft try in the first half, but we handled the pressure well," he said. Rossouw said that the high stakes had created a testing situation for Maties, and they came through with flying colours. "It was like a final situation which brings different pressures so it took a different mindset and it was great the way the guys stuck to their guns and consolidated to come back from there," he said. The Maties coach added that the amount of young talent that has come through in the WP Super League this season is encouraging ahead of the 2015 Varsity Cup. "There are quite a few young guys who are coming through and have made the step up. Varsity Cup is the main challenge and we don't have the trophy we want so we have to put the systems in place to change that," he said.