FNB CPUT claimed a fifth consecutive bonus-point win to entrench their position at the top of the FNB Varsity Shield log.

The Tekkies dominated the majority of the match, securing their bonus-point try just before half-time, although the Impi did show glimpses of their ability from time to time.

It took less than two minutes for the men from the Cape to score their opening try as Asisipho Malotana dotted down. However, the wing had to sit in the naughty chair in the 15th minute, which FNB UKZN exploited shortly after when outside centre Wandile Shabangu did brilliantly to score in the right corner.

It was blue and white after the first strategy break as the Tekkies attacked at will, with inside centre Lunathi Nxele, captain and flank Butsha Mputa and prop Matthew Coenraad all scoring tries. Flyhalf Feghon-Leigh Snyders added a conversion to push the lead to 22-5 at half-time.

FNB UKZN flank Menzi Mabaso showed great strength to power over early in the second half, but this proved to be the last time they would threaten the scoreboard.

The Tekkies' discipline was poor, yet it didn't seem to affect them all that much despite losing Nxele and wing Nathan Nkutu to yellow cards.

Scrumhalf Hugan Engelbrecht started an emphatic try-scoring spree for FNB CPUT as his efforts were followed by Nxele's brace, a second for Mputa while replacement back Björkan Hendricks and replacement lock Bradley van Boven completed an impressive haul.

FNB Player That Rocks: Lunathi Nxele (FNB CPUT)

FNB CPUT – Tries: Asisipho Malotana, Lunathi Nxele (2), Butsha Mputa (2), Matthew Coenraad, Hugan Engelbrecht, Björkan Hendricks, Bradley van Boven. Conversions: Feghon-Leigh Snyders, Imibongo Vabaza (3).

FNB UKZN Impi – Tries: Wandile Shabangu, Menzi Mabaso; Conversions: Sibongile Novuka.

FNB CPUT sealed their spot in the FNB Varsity Shield final after a 40 – 8 victory over FNB WSU at the CPUT Sports Stadium on Thursday night. The first half started slowly with the visitors confining FNB CPUT to within their 22m area for the first 10 minutes of the match.

However; it was the homeboys who drew the first blood as Ameer Hendricks scored a try in the 13th minute which was converted by flyhalf Ralton October.

At the break, the score was 10 - 8 to the home team as both sides presented an evenly matched display of play.

The second half saw CPUT dominate the game from start to finish and scoring four tries and two penalty kicks. The visitors could not match the rhythm of the home side and ended up losing 40 -8 to the loud cheers of the cheering and singing crowd.

The Steers Kinging moment winner was Ralton October while Randy Brinkhuis was voted FNB Player that Rocks.

Typical of the All Blacks, the FNBWSU team performed their trademark haka dance shortly before the commencement of the match.

During halftime members of the crowd participated in games like dressing a Steers burger and won prizes of up to R250 per person.

The final will take place at the Madibaz Stadium in Port Elizabeth and FNB CPUT will be seeking revenge against FNB Madibaz following their 38 – 21 loss in the round robin games.

Written by Kwanele Butana

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It went down to the wire but FNB CPUT defeated FNB Madibaz in the 79th minute to be crowned FNB Varsity Shield champions.

The team made an astonishing comeback after the Madibaz scored three tries in the first half, resulting in the boys from Nelson Mandela University taking a 22-10 lead at their home ground.

But FNB CPUT put up a fight in the nail biting second half. With Madibaz leading 28-25 in the final moments, George-Lee Erasmus scored a try to secure victory for CPUT. The move won him the Steers Kinging moment.

The final score was 32-28.

After finishing second last on the log last year, the team started the 2019 tournament with a loss to FNB WSU but won every game that followed.

Randy Brinkhuis was crowned the FNB Player that rocks and also won the title of FNB Backline Player of the Tournament.

Ralton October was named the FNB Overall Player of the Tournament.

The players thanked the CPUT community for their support, including the fans who travelled to PE to cheer them to victory.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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FNB CPUT claimed victory against FNB UKZN at the CPUT Stadium on Monday night booking our boys a home semi-final in the FNB Varsity Shield tournament 

The team’s supporters came out in their numbers and brought the gees to help take the team to a 69-40 win.

Lock, Ameer Hendricks, was announced as the Player that Rocks.

FNB CPUT finished second on the log after a shaky start, which saw them losing against FNB Madibaz.

The team went on to win five out of their six games.

They will now face FNB WSU in the semi-final in Bellville on April 4.

The game will be broadcast live on SuperSport 1 (Channel 201 on DStv).

Photo: Jonathan Lestrade

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Tomorrow’s Varsity Shield semi-final between FNB CPUT and FNB WSU in Bellville promises to be a vibrant affair with fireworks on and off the pitch.

Fans can look forward to fireworks displays and a fan zone while the game will be broadcast live on SuperSport 1 (DStv Channel 201).

The CPUT Local Organising Committee of the Varsity Shield tournament will be giving prizes to the first 200 patrons to enter the stadium as well as free giveaways to those who promote the match on their social media platforms.

Activations, where prizes will be given away to students, have been planned for District 6, Wellington and Bellville Campuses to spread the rugby spirit among them.

Tickets for students cost R10 while non-students will pay between R20 and R30 depending on seating area to see the match.

Should the team win, the first 200 students who have bought tickets to the Semi-Finals will be eligible to travel by bus to Port Elizabeth to support the team. 

Cape Town-based sport stars such as Proteas and Cape Cobras’ bowler Dane Paterson are rooting for CPUT to make it through to the finals.

To book its spot in the semis FNB CPUT beat FNB UKZN 69 – 40 in a home match. The win resulted in the team finishing second on the log after a shaky start, which saw them losing against FNB Madibaz.

They went on to win five out of their six games.

The semi-final match kicks off at 16H45.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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CPUT students and staff members came out in force to #backourboytjies for the university’s inaugural match in the FNB Varsity Shield presented by Steinhoff International.

Students, in their blue supporters T-shirts, travelled from far and wide for the Cape Derby to support the team as they squared off against our neighbours UWC yesterday.

The match was broadcast live on Supersport 1 and was a nail biting affair with FNB UWC ultimately winning the Cape Derby by a slim margin of 26 to 23.

Commentators commended the resilience of the CPUT team as they ably squared up to the experienced UWC squad, who were favourites to win after making it into the finals last year.

CPUTs fighting spirit was awarded when Christiaan Smit won the Player that Rocks award.

The match was closely analysed by Head of Western Province Rugby Thelo Wakefield and Currie Cup coach John Dobson who took time out of their busy schedules to meet the CPUT team a few hours before kick-off to do a jersey handover and pep talk.

Wakefield told the team that Western Province Rugby would be partnering with the CPUT team to transfer some of the extensive knowledge they had.

“You worked hard to be the owner of that jersey for 80 minutes. We came here to support you because we believe in you,” he told the team.

Dobson commended the support from CPUT management saying the backing from the top is critical for the future success of rugby at the institution.

“For the first time you have broken into this competition so you have nothing to lose and everything to win.”

The team’s next game will take place on Monday when they will face FNB Rhodes at the Rhodes Great Field.

The first opportunity to see our boys playing on home turf will be on February 27 when they will face off against FNB UKZN in Wellington. This match is scheduled to start at 18:30.

To view the fixtures and results go to:http://varsitycup.co.za/varsity-shield-fixtures/

See more photos on our Facebook album

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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CPUT’s dynamic rugby team will make their debut in the hotly contested FNB Varsity Shield presented by Steinhoff International this week when they will square off against UWC in the opening match.

FNB CPUT is making history as the first-ever from the institution to qualify for the competition and the captain and his team are appealing to the CPUT community to back our boytjies.

“CPUT students must be proud of this institution. It’s our first time to enter Varsity Shield so they must come to support us. I think they are excited to see us playing in Varsity Shield and we will do our best,” said team captain, Camagu Dlisani, a third-year Human Resource Management student.

He said the team had been training hard and their preparations had included a training camp.

Varsity Shield is played in round robin format while the final games will be knock outs.

Last year’s competition was won by the Wits team who beat UWC in the final.

Seven teams are competing for the title this year.

Thursday’s opening match between FNB CPUT and FNB UWC will be hosted by UWC and is scheduled to start at 16.45. It will be broadcast live on Supersport 1.

The CPUT team’s first home game will be on February 27 when they’ll face off against FNB UKZN in Wellington.

To view the fixtures go to: http://varsitycup.co.za/varsity-shield-fixtures/

Tickets on sale at the UWC Sports Stadium, R10 when you produce your staff or student card or R20 without.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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On Thursday, the FNB UFH Blues beat FNB CPUT 28-27 in the FNB Varsity Shield final in Alice.

It’s been an emotional rollercoaster of a season for the Blues. Last month, the players and coaches were rocked by the death of their director of rugby, Elliot Fana. And yet, they managed to pick themselves up and finish the league phase at the top of the standings.

The players appeared nervous in the lead-up to the final yet managed to maintain their composure against a fiercely competitive FNB CPUT outfit, who had won the previous two titles. FNB CPUT held their own at the scrums and generated significant momentum from their maul. Fort Hare still managed to launch from their set piece, though, and a powerful drive by No 8 Yamkela Mzozyana culminated in a try for lock Ayabulela Xhosana.

FNB CPUT continued to attack via their powerful maul and forced yet another infringement by the hosts. Xhosana was shown a yellow card, and Fort Hare finished the stanza with 14 men. The defending champions would not be denied for long, though. Scrumhalf Hugan Engelbrecht touched down after half-time, while yet another maul resulted in a try for No 8 Roland van der Heever.

Flyhalf Feghon-Leigh Snyders converted to give FNB CPUT a 22-16 lead as the game moved into the final quarter. Fort Hare responded immediately, with Xhosana grabbing a second try, but flyhalf Keith Chiwara’s missed conversion left the hosts trailing by a single point.

While Fort Hare tired, FNB CPUT grew stronger as the final whistle approached. Fullback Caine Stadler finished after an impressive build-up by the visitors, and suddenly, the game – and the trophy – was FNB CPUT’s to lose. But there was more drama to come. Snyders overcooked a clearing kick, and the players returned for a scrum deep in FNB CPUT territory.

The visitors defended for all they were worth but made a few mistakes that allowed the Blues one final shot at glory. In the end, it was the Fort Hare scrum that had the decisive say. After forcing a couple of penalties, the hosts called for yet another set piece. When FNB CPUT brought that scrum down, the referee raced towards the posts to award a penalty try – and Fort Hare the title.

The result marks the Blues’ eighth consecutive win of the season.

FNB UFH Blues 28 (13) – Tries: Ayabulela Xhosana (2), penalty try. Conversion: Keith Chiwara. Penalties: Chiwara (3).


FNB CPUT 27 (8) – Tries: Matthew Coenraad, Hugan Engelbrecht, Roland van der Heever, Caine Stadler. Conversions: Feghon-Leigh Snyders (2). Penalty: Snyders.

FNB Player That Rocks: Yamkela Mzozoyana (FNB UFH Blues)

CPUT’s formidable rugby team is ready to return to the FNB Varsity Shield tournament this year. They will be going head to head with Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in their first game, which is scheduled for February 22 in Pretoria.

Last year kicked off with a bang when the FNB CPUT team made their debut in the competition and now they are tirelessly preparing for the 2018 competition, which will see seven teams competing for the title.

Their first home game will be on February 26 against Walter Sisulu University at the CPUT Stadium in Wellington and the team is calling on the whole CPUT community to come out and show their support.

This year’s team captain is Henrico Jacobs. “The team has been working hard. Our preparations have included a training camp, which took place from January 4 to 20 in Wellington,” says Bulelani Mlakalaka, Sport Development Officer for Rugby.

Varsity Shield is played in round robin format while the final games will be knockouts.

Last year’s competition was won by UWC who beat Fort Hare in the final.

Visit CPUT Sport for updates: 

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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FNB CPUT scored a comfortable 50-8 victory over FNB UKZN at the CPUT Sports Stadium in Bellville on Thursday night.

The match was played at a frantic pace and in windy conditions. The home side dominated possession but could not execute their opportunities.

The teams went into the half-time break tied at 8-all.

In the second half, CPUT again dominated possession and territory. They scored four more tries to ensure a comfortable win.

FNB Varsity Shield Round 1 results and scorers

FNB CPUT 50 (8) - Tries: Olivier Klaasen, Wiehan Kruger (3), Matteo Solomons.

Conversions:  Wiehan Kruger (4).

FNB UKZN 8 (8) - Tries : Jarryd Nicholls. Penalty: Juandre Kock.

Player That Rocks: Wiehan Kruger (FNB CPUT)

 Round 2 fixtures – 23 February 

FNB WSU vs FNB CPUT (Sisa Dukashe Stadium)

FNB UKZN vs FNB Madibaz (Peter Booysen Stadium)

FNB TUT vs FNB Rhodes (TUT Stadium)

FNB UFH vs FNB UWC (Davidson Stadium)

Written by Varsity Shield

The 2023 FNB Varsity Shield kicks off on February 16 and supporters can look forward to watching FNB CPUT take on FNB UKN at the CPUT Sports Stadium in Bellville on Thursday night.

The game is scheduled to start at 19:00 and tickets are only available online via Howler: https://howler.co.za/cput-vs-ukzn

This year’s tournament will see eight teams fighting for the title: defending champions FNB Fort Hare, FNB UWC, FNB Madibaz, FNB CPUT, FNB UKZN Impi, FNB Rhodes and FNB TUT Vikings and FNB WSU. The heat will be on as 2023 has will be a promotion year.

In a dramatic final last year, FNB Fort Hare beat FNB CPUT 28-27.

Written by CPUT News
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FNB CPUT recorded its first loss in this year’s Varsity Shield tournament, losing against neigbours FNB UWC last night.

The visitors won the Cape derby 31-10 in a packed CPUT Sports Field in Bellville.

The home side managed a single penalty in the first half with UWC running in three tries to head into the break with a comfortable 17-3 lead.

No points were scored in the first 20 minutes. A single penalty via the boot of Oyintando Maseti was the only first-half points for Alastair Theys' men while UWC ran in three tries.

For UWC, the tries came quickly and fast after the strategic break. Hlomla Ncana, Franco Ceasar and Bilaal Moerat all scored.

At the start of the second half, the 2018 Varsity Shield champions picked up where they left off when Almore Kuilders went over for the bonus point try.

For the next 15 minutes, it was all CPUT as the 2022 finalists stretched the UWC defensive lines, but it held. A series of clinical errors by the home side however prevented them from converting any of the pressure into points.

Despite a late surge and a consolation try by Dwayne Atkins, UWC retain their unbeaten record and secured a convincing victory.

FNB CPUT 10 (3) – Try: Dwayne Atkins. Conversion: Oyintando Maseti Penalty: Maseti

FNB UWC 31 (17) – Tries: Hlomla Ncana, Franco Ceasar, Bilaal Moerat, Almore Kuilders, Louan De Lange. Conversions: Conwill Conradie (3)

FNB Player That Rocks: Conwill Conradie (UWC)

A clinical opening half by FNB CPUT helped them edge past FNB TUT 15-13 at home in Bellville to claim their first win in this year’s Varsity Shield.

The two-time champions are in a serious rebuilding phase and CPUT capitalised on their territory and possession, running in a brilliant first-half try courtesy of Iwaan Bloys handing them a halftime score of 7-3.

Despite a host of errors by both sides, it was CPUT who came out tops with a very disciplined display of determination and skills. Telling runs by Keenan Williams, Ayabulela Zono, and Keewan Titus meant that the possession favoured the home side.

The home side dominated the scrums and, with this advantage, it was Oyintando Maseti who darted through two would-be TUT defenders for his side’s second try.

A late surge in the 72nd minute by TUT saw Kgomotso Maribana gather the ball at the back of a rolling maul to dive over. This was followed up with a second TUT try when Josh Robinson went over handing the visitors the lead for the first time, 12-13.

It was, however, not to be the fairy tale come-from-behind win for TUT as Linton Maritz slotted a 79th-minute penalty for a 15-13 CPUT victory.

SCORERS:

FNB CPUT 15 (7) – Tries: Iwaan Bloys, Oyintando Maseti. Conversions: Oyintando Maseti. Penalties: Linton Maritz.

FNB TUT 13 (3) – Tries: Kgomotso Maribana, Josh Robinson. Penalties. Mauritz Maritz.

FNB Player That Rocks: Oyintando Maseti (FNB CPUT)

With the round-robin games stage of the 2024 FNB Varsity Shield competition nearing its end, FNB CPUT find themselves in unfamiliar territory.

The 2023 runners-up have only won one match and are having to hope for a few balls to hop in their favour.

They will be facing FNB WSU at the CPUT Bellville Stadium on 5 April. CPUT will be hoping to get the most log points from their remaining matches.

Under the mentorship of head coach Alastair Theys, CPUT won back-to-back Varsity Shield titles in 2019 and 2021 while placing as runners-up in 2022 and 2023.

They admit this year things have been decidedly different.

"It has been a tough campaign for us with a lot of challenges, but the boys are in a positive space.

“We have seen great improvements from just the TUT game to the UFH fixture and despite losing the game against UFH, there are a lot of positives to take from it. One of which is that we are hoping that we can keep on improving and pick up two or three wins, to end off well.

“It is the first time we find ourselves in this situation, it is unknown territory from which we have been learning. The main thing, however, is that the guys are positive."

A host of top CPUT players who were prominent in the 2019-2023 period have moved on. This has left Theys, and his experienced assistant coaches Jongikhaya Nokwe and Jerome Paarwater, with virtually a new team.

Roland van der Heever, currently playing for FNB Maties while completing his honours at Stellenbosch University, was part of a formidable and reliable loose trio combination with Ché Klaasen and former captain Keanan Solomons. At the back, fullback Caine Stadler, nippy scrumhalf Hugan Engelbrecht and speedster Heinrico Hartogh have all left massive gaps.

Ahead of the 2024 season Theys said that the current crop of players is very young and that the team will need to build strong combinations, gain experience, and have that team chemistry that only comes from playing together for a few seasons.