The 2023 Varsity Cup was the 16th season of the Varsity Cup, the top competition in the annual Varsity Rugby series in men's rugby union. It was played between 20 February and 27 April 2023 and featured eight university teams.
The 2023 season included notable upsets and intense competition, such as securing a home victory over defending champions in March. In the championship match, edged out the 27‑25 to claim their second Varsity Cup title. The tournament also marked the return of full‑capacity crowds at campus stadiums and the ongoing growth of varsity rugby following COVID‑19 disruptions.
Competition rules and information
There were eight participating university teams in the 2023 Varsity Cup. They played each other once during the pool stage, either at home or 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 four teams after the pool stage qualified for the semifinals, which were followed by a final.
Teams
Location of teams in the 2023 Varsity Cup Western Cape
The teams that played in the 2023 Varsity Cup are:
2023 Varsity Cup teams Team name University Stadium Central University of Technology Stellenbosch University North-West University University of Cape Town University of the Free State University of Johannesburg University of Pretoria University of the Witwatersrand
Standings The final log for the 2023 Varsity Cup was:
2023 Varsity Cup log Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TB LB Pts 1 7 6 0 1 281 154 +127 2 1 27 2 7 5 0 2 223 220 +3 2 0 22 3 7 4 0 3 263 187 +76 4 1 21 4 7 4 0 3 223 250 −27 2 1 19 5 7 3 0 4 231 254 −23 3 2 17 6 7 3 0 4 228 267 −39 2 2 16 7 7 3 0 4 262 321 −59 3 0 15 8 7 0 0 7 192 250 −58 1 4 5
Legend and competition rules Legend: Qualified for the semifinals. 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 Competition rules: Qualification:
Pool stage
Matches
The following matches were played in the 2023 Varsity Cup:
Round one
Round two
Round three
Round four
Round five
Round six
Round seven
Play-offs
Semi-finals
Final
FB 15Santino Swanepoel RW 14Ricardo WindvogelOC 13Gerhardus PretoriusIC 12Vincent Phatudi LW 11Naiden JaartsFH 10Zinedine Robinson SH 9 Sylvester Hassien N8 8 Zacharias ErlankOF 7 BF 6 Chris VermaakRL 5 Wihan Nel LL 4 Stephan KrugelTP 3 Ruan Swiegers (c) HK 2 Vernon Paulo LP 1 Ruben du Plessis Replacements: 16Chyle Van Zyl 17Jason Jansen 18Eben Brand 19Miyelani Ngobeni 20Jandre De Beer 21Aphelele Madaka 22Martin Venter 23Matthew Fortuin Coach: Burger van der Westhuizen FB 15Duran KoevortRW 14Rethabile LouwOC 13Joshua BoulleIC 12Kyle Lamb LW 11Ntokozo MakhazaFH 10David Hayes SH 9 Asad Moos N8 8 Laro Delport OF 7 Kyle NdiaoBF 6 Siphomezo DyonaseRL 5 George van der WesthuizenLL 4 Reynhardt CrousTP 3 Bryan le Roux HK 2 Keagan Blanckenberg LP 1 Luthando Woji (c) Replacements: 16Alex Castle 17Christian 18Jovan Bekker 19Jac van der Walt 20Jason Macleod Smith 21Ndudula 22Lezane Davis 23Rihaz Fredericks Coach:Tom Dawson-Squibb Player of the Match: Reynhardt Crous
Honours
The honour roll for the 2023 Varsity Cup was as follows:
2023 Varsity Cup Honours Champions: (2nd title) Player That Rocks: Lourens Oosthuizen, Forward That Rocks: Lourens Oosthuizen, Back That Rocks: Zane Bester, Rookie of the year: Asad Moos, Top Points Scorer: Ntokozo Makhaza, (127) Top Try Scorer: Vernon Paulo, (11)
References