Wits secure promotion as FNB Varsity Shield semi-finalists are decided

FNB Wits underlined their dominance in the FNB Varsity Shield with a commanding 46-15 victory over FNB UWC to secure automatic promotion back into the FNB Varsity Cup while both sides booked their places in the semi-finals. FNB WSU secured a home semi-final spot with a narrow 15-13 win against FNB UFH at Sisa Dukashe Stadium while FNB Madibaz ended fourth on the log with a comeback win over Sol Plaatje University.

FNB UWC 15-46 FNB Wits

FNB Wits underlined their dominance in the FNB Varsity Shield with a commanding victory over FNB UWC at UWC Stadium on Friday, securing promotion to the FNB Varsity Cup while both sides booked their places in the semi-finals.

The log leaders wasted no time asserting control, striking as early as the first minute through their scrumhalf Bryce Samuel to take a 5-0 lead. Wits continued to pile on the pressure and although an early attacking move went unrewarded, they soon extended their advantage. Kevon Chirwa crossed in the corner in the 16th minute, before Lindani Dweba powered over for another try, with the conversion pushing the visitors to a comfortable 22-0 lead.

UWC’s struggles were compounded by a yellow card to Melvin Diedericks, as Wits maintained their intensity. Despite a yellow card to Bonga Nxumalo late in the half, the visitors went into the break firmly in control.

The hosts showed signs of life immediately after the restart, with Diedericks making amends by crashing over for UWC’s opening try. However, Wits quickly responded, with Chris Kachungunu barging through before Kamohelo Ncunca added another to stretch the lead.

UWC produced a late surge, scoring twice in quick succession through Dwayne Badenhorst and Leachim Adams to give the home crowd something to cheer about. But Wits proved too strong, earning a penalty try before Rekkie Gerber added the final touch.

With eight tries to three, Wits showcased why they have been the standout side this season, finishing with six wins and one draw as they march confidently into the FNB Varsity Cup.

FNB UKZN 41-22 FNB CPUT

FNB UKZN ran seven tries past FNB CPUT in an emphatic second half come back from the home team.

The first try of the afternoon went in the way of the Blue Wave after Denley Adams dotted down for the away team after powerful carrying of the ball from the first whistle. The Cape Town side attempted to take advantage of the new tap PowerPlay; however they were unfortunate.

The home team quickly bounced back not long into time. Centre Russel Fick powered over the try line after a close penalty advantage near the try line. The home team also failed to take the advantage of PowerPlay as well taking the score to 5-5.

Impi had the momentum with them for a while and made no mistake and took their advantage through a beautiful team play try. Siso France received a beautiful offload from his scrumhalf, to down. Converting his own try.

The tug of war continued as the Blue Wave responded to equalise, following a beautiful individual brilliance try by Jaqcuin Jacobus, who sliced through the Impi defense to dot down a Rueben Noble converted try taking the score to 12-12.

The momentum of the match switched to the away team after discipline issues caused the home side to be two players down, a red card for the home captain and a yellow card for the hooker at the same time.

The away team had the final say of the first half as Sipho Kula finished off a beautiful try from a line out deep in the half of the IMPI defense taking the half time score to 17-12 to the away side.

The second came with a different tune as the home team came back much stronger than their first half efforts.

The star of the game France grabbed his brace of the match after he found some way in the backs of the Blue Wave to level the score.

Impi tried the innovative tap play but it only worked against them as the fly half of FNB CPUT Rueben Nonle intercepted and ran the whitewash about 60m on to dot down.

FNB UKZN stepped up their game to run in another try through their No 6, Nhlakanipho Buthelezi who stretched his arm out on a tight ruck to dot down for Impi. A try converted by Siso France.

The home team went on to get another try by replacement Frederick Malgas which they topped off with another try by Eloko Kayekeze, who finally got his try in the game, a successful tap PowerPlay displayed.

The final try of the match came in at the 70th minute through replacement Zac Smith who was amongst those who changed the match from the off the bench. The try was successfully converted by the best performing player in the match, FNB UKZN fullback, France.

The score reading 41-22 to the home team who got a favourable final round win.

FNB WSU 15-13 FNB UFH

FNB WSU secured a hard-fought victory over FNB UFH at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Round 7 of the 2026 FNB Varsity Shield booking their place in the semi-finals after a tense encounter.

WSU controlled large parts of the first half showing patience in attack and discipline in defence. Their sustained pressure eventually paid off in the 32nd minute with a well worked try before adding another just before half-time to take a 10-0 lead into the break.

UFH emerged with renewed intensity in the second half and quickly shifted momentum through a successful PowerPlay scoring twice in quick succession to level the match at 10-10. The visitors continued to apply pressure and were rewarded with a penalty in the 67th minute taking a 13-10 lead and putting WSU under pressure heading into the closing stages.

With the game hanging in the balance, WSU responded and crossed the line in the 72nd minute to score a crucial try that restored the hosts’ lead. Despite an unsuccessful PowerPlay, WSU held firm defensively in the final minutes to secure a narrow victory.

The result carried significant implications for the Varsity Shield standings. WSU needed both a victory and favourable results elsewhere to challenge for top spot and automatic promotion.

However, FNB Wits’ dominant victory over FNB UWC meant WSU finish second on the log.

As a result, WSU will host a home semi-final and remain in contention for promotion via the play-off against the seventh-placed Varsity Cup side, keeping their Varsity Cup ambitions alive.

FNB SPU 36-63 FNB Madibaz

A gutsy performance from the away team, who dominated the forward game and capitalized on mistakes from FNB SPU to secure the win with clinical line-outs and a devastating maul game which left the home team having licking their wounds after a long season.

The away team showed up from the opening minute of the game when their No 8 Ruwaan Zealand ran in to dot down and get the game off to a fast start. Minutes later FNB SPU showed up to the party and scored a brilliant try through Sithabiso Dube to make the score FNB SPU 7-5 FNB Madibaz.

The game was a back and forth with FNB Madibaz's Cullen Williows dotting to make the score 10-7 with 12 minutes on the clock.

FNB SPU scored a critical try just before the strat break when their forwards powered over with the try being awarded to loosehead prop Aiden Holtzhausen to make then score 14-10.

Shortly after the break FNB SPU added to the scoreboard with a brilliant try from Dwayne Lubbe who showed exceptional speed to beat the FNB Madibaz defence and dot down under the polls. An exceptional run from scrumhalf Onelisiwe Fani pegged back the Gemmies just before half-time but Gemmies showed that they came ready to play with a dominant display from their forwards which ended with their captain Jan Potigter scoring to make the score 26-15 to FNB SPU at half-time.

The second half started off with a bang as outside center Dube added his second try of the evening to stretch FNB SPU lead but a great display of running rugby from the Madibaz was then finished off by Williows for his second try of the evening.

This was followed by a PowerPlay try to make the scores FNB SPU 31-25 FNB Madibaz. That try was the shift in momentum that the Madibaz need to turn the game on its head.

They followed that up with two quick tries, the first by their flank Sean van Zijil straight from the restart and then Edward Kruger was on the end of a dominating maul from the forwards to put the Madibaz within a point.

SPU errors started to creep in and they were punished by Brent Klopper who ended a rolling maul by dotting down to take the lead 42-36. From that point on FNB Madibaz were unstoppable with Zealand scoring another simple try.

Two quick fire tries from FNB Madibaz Christian van der Merwe and Qurin Cupido ended the game as a contest and took the fire out of the Gemmies leading to another disappointing defeat for the home team.