The 2016 Varsity Shield was contested from 1 February to 18 April 2016. The tournament (also known as the FNB Varsity Shield presented by Steinhoff International for sponsorship reasons) was the sixth season of the Varsity Shield, an annual second-tier inter-university rugby union competition featuring five South African universities.

Following a disruption during the Varsity Cup Round Three match between and and general unrest on various university campuses, all fixtures scheduled for 29 February were postponed to 4 April, with the semi-finals and final also postponed by a week. On 1 March, it was also announced that the round of matches scheduled for 7 March would also be postponed, with the situation at various universities being monitored to determine when the competition will resume. After a meeting by the executive management of Varsity Rugby on 9 March, it was decided that all remaining matches in the competition would be played at neutral venues and that matches should resume on 14 March.

The tournament was won by for the second time; they beat 39–2 in the final played on 18 April 2016. Wits was also promoted to the top-tier Varsity Cup competition for 2017.

Competition rules and information

There were five participating universities in the 2015 Varsity Shield. These teams played each other twice over the course of the season, once at home and once away.

Teams received four points for a win and two points for a draw. Bonus points were awarded to teams that scored four or more tries in a game, as well as to teams that lost a match by seven points or less. Teams were ranked by log points, then points difference (points scored less points conceded).

The top two teams qualified for the title play-offs. These teams played each other in the final, at the home venue of the higher-placed team.

The Varsity Shield winner was promoted to the 2017 Varsity Cup competition, while the bottom team in the Varsity Cup was relegated to the 2017 Varsity Shield. There was also a promotion/relegation match between the 7th-placed team in the Varsity Cup and the Varsity Shield runner-up at the end of the 2016 season. Three new universities will join the Varsity Shield in 2017.

The Varsity Shield used a different scoring system to the regular system. Tries were worth five points as usual, but conversions were worth three points, while penalties and drop goals were only worth two points.

Teams

2016 Varsity Shield teams Team name University Stadium Tshwane University of Technology University of Fort Hare University of KwaZulu-Natal University of the Western Cape University of the Witwatersrand

Standings

The final league standings for the 2016 Varsity Shield were:

2016 Varsity Shield standings Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts 1 8 6 0 2 342 96 +246 50 12 6 1 31 2 8 5 0 3 179 186 −7 28 25 3 0 24 3 8 7 0 1 382 144 +238 51 19 4 0 20 4 8 1 0 7 136 355 −219 17 50 2 2 8 5 8 1 0 7 102 360 −258 14 54 1 2 5

Legend and competition rules Legend: Promoted to the 2017 Varsity Cup and qualifies to the final. P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TF = Tries for, TA = Tries against, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points Runner-up; will qualify to the final. Competition rules: Play-offs: and qualified to the final, with Wits hosting UWC.Wits was automatically promoted to the 2017 Varsity Cup, while UWC qualified for a promotion play-off.

Points breakdown:* 4 points for a win* 2 points for a draw* 1 bonus point for a loss by eight points or less* 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

Round-by-round

Team Progression – 2016 Varsity Shield Team R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 Final 1 (4th) 6 (2nd) 6 (3rd) 11 (2nd) 16 (2nd) 17 (2nd) 22 (1st) 22 (3rd) 27 (2nd) 32 (1st) Won 4 (2nd) 4 (3rd) 8 (2nd) 8 (3rd) 8 (3rd) 13 (3rd) 18 (3rd) 24 (2nd) 24 (3rd) 24 (2nd) Lost 4 (1st) 8 (1st) 13 (1st) 18 (1st) 18 (1st) 22 (1st) 22 (2nd) 27 (1st) 32 (1st) 20 (3rd) 0 (5th) 0 (5th) 1 (5th) 2 (4th) 3 (5th) 3 (5th) 3 (5th) 3 (4th) 3 (4th) 8 (4th) 1 (3rd) 1 (4th) 1 (4th) 1 (5th) 5 (4th) 5 (4th) 5 (4th) 3 (5th) 3 (5th) 5 (5th) The table above shows a team's progression throughout the season.For each round, their cumulative points total is shown with the overall log position in brackets.Key: win draw loss bye

Matches

The following matches were played in the 2016 Varsity Shield:

Round one

Round two

Round three

Round four

Round five

Round six

Round seven

Round eight

Round nine

Round ten

Final

Honours

The honour roll for the 2016 Varsity Shield was as follows:

2016 Varsity Shield Honours Champions: Player That Rocks: Thobekani Buthelezi, Forward That Rocks: Rhyno Herbst, Back That Rocks: Aidynn Cupido, Top Try Scorers: Thobekani Buthelezi, (9) Top Points Scorer: Tristan Tedder, (114)

Players

Player statistics

The following table contain points that were scored in the 2016 Varsity Shield:

All point scorers No Player Team T C P DG Pts 1 Tristan Tedder UKZN Impi 2 34 1 0 114 2 Warren Gilbert Wits 1 25 0 1 82 3 Aidynn Cupido UWC 4 7 2 1 47 4 Thobekani Buthelezi UKZN Impi 9 0 0 0 45 5 Lukas van Zyl TUT Vikings 1 7 6 0 38 6 Tristan Blewett UKZN Impi 7 0 0 0 35 CJ Conradie Wits 7 0 0 0 35 8 Constant Beckerling Wits 5 0 0 0 25 Curwin Bosch UKZN Impi 1 6 1 0 25 Josh Jarvis Wits 5 0 0 0 25 Shayne Makombe UKZN Impi 5 0 0 0 25 Kwanele Ngema Wits 5 0 0 0 25 Luvuyo Pupuma Wits 5 0 0 0 25 Kerron van Vuuren UKZN Impi 5 0 0 0 25 15 Siviwe Bisset UFH Blues 2 3 1 0 21 16 Sicelo Champion TUT Vikings 4 0 0 0 20 Shawn Jaards TUT Vikings 1 5 0 0 20 Grant Rattray UKZN Impi 4 0 0 0 20 19 Elandre Sias UFH Blues 1 4 0 0 17 20 Conor Brockschmidt Wits 3 0 0 0 15 Philbrey Joseph UWC 3 0 0 0 15 José Julies UWC 3 0 0 0 15 Marius Louw UKZN Impi 3 0 0 0 15 Ruan Macdonald Wits 3 0 0 0 15 S'busiso Nkosi UKZN Impi 3 0 0 0 15 Tshepo Nyathi TUT Vikings 3 0 0 0 15 Peter Wanjiru UWC 3 0 0 0 15 28 Akhona Matutu UFH Blues 1 2 0 0 11 29 Richard Crossman Wits 2 0 0 0 10 Asiphe Fihla UFH Blues 2 0 0 0 10 Dean Herbert UWC 2 0 0 0 10 Rhyno Herbst Wits 2 0 0 0 10 Claude Johannes TUT Vikings 2 0 0 0 10 Marcus Kleinbooi UWC 2 0 0 0 10 Christo Lategan TUT Vikings 2 0 0 0 10 Calvin Maduna TUT Vikings 2 0 0 0 10 Jason Marcus UWC 2 0 0 0 10 Thato Marobela Wits 2 0 0 0 10 Ian Truter TUT Vikings 2 0 0 0 10 Pierre van der Walt UKZN Impi 2 0 0 0 10 Wade Worthington Wits 2 0 0 0 10 42 Darian Hock UWC 0 3 0 0 9 Kyle Wesemann Wits 0 3 0 0 9 44 Athiphila Mlotywa UFH Blues 1 1 0 0 8 45 Andrew Acton UKZN Impi 1 0 0 0 5 Wikus Badenhorst UKZN Impi 1 0 0 0 5 Luyolo Batshise UFH Blues 1 0 0 0 5 Byron Burgess UWC 1 0 0 0 5 Ruan Cloete Wits 1 0 0 0 5 Courtney Cupido UWC 1 0 0 0 5 Clayton Daniels UWC 1 0 0 0 5 Jean Droste UKZN Impi 1 0 0 0 5 Matthew Faught UWC 1 0 0 0 5 Chestwin Gaffley TUT Vikings 1 0 0 0 5 Lukho Jongizulu UFH Blues 1 0 0 0 5 Morné Joubert UKZN Impi 1 0 0 0 5 Jaywinn Juries UKZN Impi 1 0 0 0 5 Matthew le Roux UWC 1 0 0 0 5 George Letshuma TUT Vikings 1 0 0 0 5 Wayrin Losper UWC 1 0 0 0 5 Kurt MacKay TUT Vikings 1 0 0 0 5 Athenkosi Makeleni UFH Blues 1 0 0 0 5 Aziyena Mandaba UFH Blues 1 0 0 0 5 Ayebulela Mdudi UFH Blues 1 0 0 0 5 John-Hubert Meyer UKZN Impi 1 0 0 0 5 Michael Meyer UKZN Impi 1 0 0 0 5 Blake Mingay UKZN Impi 1 0 0 0 5 Dumisane Mthethwa TUT Vikings 1 0 0 0 5 Minenhle Mthethwa UWC 1 0 0 0 5 Sibongile Novuka UFH Blues 1 0 0 0 5 Misugukhosi Pienaar UFH Blues 1 0 0 0 5 Gordon-Wayne Plaatjies UWC 1 0 0 0 5 Sesethu Time UFH Blues 1 0 0 0 5 Brandon Valentyn UWC 1 0 0 0 5 Tijde Visser Wits 1 0 0 0 5 Ado Wessels UKZN Impi 1 0 0 0 5 Zwela Zondi UKZN Impi 1 0 0 0 5 78 Frank Abrahams TUT Vikings 0 1 0 0 3 Spa Dube UKZN Impi 0 1 0 0 3 Luxolo Ntsepe Wits 0 1 0 0 3 AJ van Blerk Wits 0 1 0 0 3 Melik Wana UWC 0 1 0 0 3 — penalty try Wits 1 0 0 0 5 Note: Conversions count three points, while penalties and drop goals count two points. * Legend: T = Tries, C = Conversions, P = Penalties, DG = Drop Goals, Pts = Points.

Squads

The following squads were named for the 2016 Varsity Shield:

+ 2016 TUT Vikings squad Francois de Villiers Chestwin Gaffley Dehan Groenewald Jurie Huyser Claude Johannes Wessel Jordaan Christo Lategan George Letshuma Calvin Maduna Armand Marshall Percy Matlhoko Ratsaka Modjadji DK Mukendi Jacob Nelson Kevin Nkateko William Thomson Schalk van Niekerk Cornelius van Rooyen Jonty Voogt Did not play: Erich Broodrijk Gilbert Chalmers Ian Ewart James Frost Jean-Claude le Roux Albert Lubbe Mandla Mdaka Ryan Sim Wian van Schalkwyk Frank Abrahams Lisa Banzi Arno Brits Mfundo Gumede Shawn Jaards Kurt MacKay Dumisane Mthethwa Tshepo Nyathi Ian Truter Lukas van Zyl Litha Vumisa Did not play: Dalton Peter Dreyer Cascious Andilj Dube Runaldo Hendricks Dikgang John Jabar Melusi Meluleki Ndwandwe Welcome Ngwenya Ulikhaya Lavuya Nqoto Bongani Phangisa Gahno Bradley Calten Prins Hennie Pieterse

+ 2016 UFH Blues squad Justin Riaan Antonie Asiphe Fanele Lulamile Kama Lwando Mabenge Athenkosi Makeleni Bulelani Mdodana Olwethu Mputla Philisani Ncoko Lusindiso Nkomo Lwando Nteta Misugukhosi Pienaar Siphesihle Punguzwa Zanoxolo Qwele Sibusiso Sityebi Hendri Storm Sesethu Time Mzinga Vitsha Malusi Vula Did not play: Sakhumzi Bobi Daniel Caku-Caku Tsepo Themba Gcanga Siphelele Njobeni Ntsika Nyalambisa Ashley Prince Luyolo Batshise Siviwe Bisset Asiphe Fihla Lukho Jongizulu Aziyena Mandaba Qama Masiza Akhona Matutu Athiphila Mlotywa Sibongile Novuka Elandre Sias Sethu Tom Siphosethu Tsotsa Siphuxolo Zaula Did not play: Curwin Jacobus Geraldo Joseph Ntsika Kula Lee Mavuso Patrick Mbangi Lithabile Mgwadleka Sithembiso Ngwenya Sivakele Ulana Lumumba Currie

+ 2016 UKZN Impi squad Andrew Acton Jean Droste Erich Kankowski Sanele Malwane Jordan Martin Khuthu Mchunu John-Hubert Meyer Michael Meyer Ntando Mpofana Clive Musasiwa Kwezi Puza Lindo Radebe Christie van der Merwe Pierre van der Walt Kerron van Vuuren Mikyle Webster Ado Wessels Zwela Zondi Rikus Zwart Did not play: Siya Mhlongo Wikus Badenhorst Tristan Blewett Curwin Bosch Thobekani Buthelezi Spa Dube Morné Joubert Jaywinn Juries Marius Louw Shayne Makombe Blake Mingay S'busiso Nkosi Grant Rattray Langelihle Shange Tristan Tedder Alwayno Visagie Did not play: Richard Bamber Alrich Brown Ilunga Mukendi Michael Sibiya Zweli Silaule Sandile Zulu Michael Horak

+ 2016 UWC squad Tahriq Allan Stuart Austin Brandon Beukman Alwyn Carstens Kelvin de Bruyn Sabelo Dlamini Keenan Douw Matthew Faught Philbrey Joseph José Julies Matthew le Roux Wayrin Losper Darren Luiters Jeremy Papier Robin Paulse Verno Treu Brandon Valentyn Peter Wanjiru Did not play: Axolile Apleni Bradley Jumaats Heynes Kotze George Piet Taona Saungweme Tiaan Smuts Byron Burgess Aidynn Cupido Courtney Cupido Clayton Daniels Lubabalo Faleni Dean Herbert Darian Hock Marcus Kleinbooi Monre Lingeveldt Jason Marcus Jacquin Moses Ruan Mostert Minenhle Mthethwa Matthew Nortjé Gordon-Wayne Plaatjes Yaasien Railoun Octaven van Stade Wilbré van Wyk Melik Wana Did not play: Carlisle Castle Niyaas Johnson Rufus Witbooi Chester Williams

+ 2016 Wits squad Constant Beckerling Conor Brockschmidt CJ Conradie Richard Crossman Mitchell Fraser Rhyno Herbst Craig Hume Graham Logan Ruan Macdonald Ayabulela Mdudi Brandon Palmer Luvuyo Pupuma Tijde Visser Ameer Williams Did not play: Justin Brandon Jethi de Lange CJ Greeff Matthys Johannes Human Pascal Snyman JP Swart Gihard Visagie Sicelo Champion Ruan Cloete Wian Coetzee Warren Gilbert Josh Jarvis Thato Marobela Kwanele Ngema Luxolo Ntsepe AJ van Blerk Kyle Wesemann Wade Worthington Did not play: Paolo Andrews Bin Kasende Kapepula Divan Minnaar Sibusiso Mngomezulu Kyle Schachat Dandré van den Berg Hugo van As

Discipline

The following table contains all the cards handed out during the tournament: