2027 Varsity Cup

This article is about the 2027 Varsity Cup FNB rugby tournament. For the Varsity Shield tournament, see 2027 Varsity Shield. For all things related to Varsity Rugby, see Varsity Rugby.

2027 Varsity Cup
File:VARSITY CUP PRIMARY LOGO 1-1 CMYK 150719 FAC1.jpg
Countries	South Africa
Date	February – April 2027
Official website
varsitycup.co.za

The 2027 Varsity Cup is the 20th season of the Varsity Cup, the premier competition in the annual Varsity Rugby series in South Africa for men's rugby union. The tournament takes place between eight university teams and played between February and April 2027.

This competition forms part of the broader Varsity Rugby programme administered by Varsity Sport, which aims to promote university rugby and provide a pathway for emerging talent into professional rugby structures. Certain Matches will be broadcast nationally on SuperSport.

The [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] enter the 2027 season as the former winners of the Varsity Cup Trophy after beating NWU Pukke in the 2026 final. [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] were promoted to this years' Varsity Cup edition after finishing top of the table in the 2026 Varisity Shield.Emeris retained their spot in this years Varsity Cup after defeating [[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]] in the 2026 relegation/promotion match.

Competition rules and information

Eight university teams will participate in the 2027 Varsity Cup. During the pool stage, each team will play the other seven sides once, either home or away.

Teams are awarded:

• four points for a win
• two points for a draw
• one bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match
• one bonus point for losing by seven points or fewer

Teams are ranked primarily by log points, and then by points difference (points scored minus points conceded).

The top four teams at the conclusion of the pool stage will advance to the semi-finals. The two highest-ranked teams will host the semi-finals, and the highest-ranked remaining finalist will host the final.

Teams

The teams that will play in the 2027 Varsity Cup are:

2027 Varsity Cup teams
Team name	University	Stadium
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	North-West University	{{{s}}}, [[{{{slan}}}|{{{sl}}}]]
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	Stellenbosch University	{{{s}}}, [[{{{slan}}}|{{{sl}}}]]
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	University of the Free State	{{{s}}}, [[{{{slan}}}|{{{sl}}}]]
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	University of Cape Town	{{{s}}}, [[{{{slan}}}|{{{sl}}}]]
Emeris	Varsity College	University of KwaZulu Natal
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	University of Johannesburg	{{{s}}}, [[{{{slan}}}|{{{sl}}}]]
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	University of the Witwatersrand	{{{s}}}, [[{{{slan}}}|{{{sl}}}]]
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	University of Pretoria	{{{s}}}, [[{{{slan}}}|{{{sl}}}]]

Team records

Team	Champions	Runners-up	Third/Fourth	Apps to knockouts	Relegations
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	6 (2012, 2013, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2026)	2 (2011, 2019)	5 (2008, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2025)	13	1 (2023)
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	5 (2008, 2009, 2010, 2018, 2019)	6 (2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2025)	5 (2014, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2026)	16	N/A
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	3 (2011, 2014, 2025)	5 (2008, 2010, 2021, 2023, 2024)	3 (2009, 2015, 2022)	11	N/A
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	2 (2016, 2023)	5 (2009, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2026)	6 (2008, 2010, 2012, 2019, 2024)	13	N/A
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	2 (2015, 2024)	N/A	7 (2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2026)	9	N/A
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	N/A	N/A	7 (2010, 2011, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2025)	7	N/A
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	N/A	N/A	2 (2013, 2014)	2	1 (2018)
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	N/A	N/A	1 (2018)	1	2 (2014, 2025)
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	1 (2024)
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	1 (2026)
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	1 (2012)
Emeris	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Standings

2027 Varsity Cup Log

The final log for the 2026 Varsity Cup was:

2027 Varsity Cup log
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	BP	Pts
1	[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
7	Emeris	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
8	[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
*Legend: Pos = Position, Pl = Played, W = Won, D = Drawn, L = 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 Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match Qualification: The top four teams will qualify for the semifinals.

Round-by-round

Team Progression – 2027 Varsity Cup
Team	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	Semi	Final
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	0
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	0
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	0
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	0
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	0
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	0
[[{{{tan}}}|{{{t}}}]]	0
Emeris	0
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

Pool stage

Results

The following matches were played in the 2027 Varsity Cup:

Round 1

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Round 2

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Round 3

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Round 4

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Round 5

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Round 6

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Round 7

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Play-offs

	Semi-finals				Final
	April 2027
	TBD	-
					April 2027
	TBD	-
					TBD	-
	April 2027
					TBD	-
	TBD	-
	TBD	-

Semi-finals

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Final

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Promotion and relegation

At the end of the Varsity Cup season, a promotion–relegation system will determine the movement between the Varsity Cup and the Varsity Shield. The team that finishes last in the Varsity Cup standings is automatically relegated to the Varsity Shield for the following season.

The winner of the Varsity Shield is automatically promoted to the Varsity Cup. In addition, the second-last placed Varsity Cup team will play a promotion–relegation playoff match against the Varsity Shield runner-up team, with the winner earning a place in next season's Varsity Cup.

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References

Template:Varsity Rugby

2027 Category:2027 rugby union tournaments for clubs Varsity Cup

References

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