Coach Robbie Fleck says UCT are eager to defend a Varsity Cup title for the first time after the 2026 fixtures were confirmed on Tuesday.
The Varsity Shield begins on Friday, 13 February, with the Varsity Cup getting under way on Monday, 16 February.
The competitions remain an important pathway into the professional game, with more than 60 former Varsity Cup and Shield players having gone on to represent the Springboks.
“Varsity Cup has always been about giving young players a platform to test themselves,” said former Springbok captain and Varsity Cup co-founder Francois Pienaar. “It’s about helping them grow and seeing how far they can go.”
UCT will start the new campaign as the team to beat. Despite player turnover, Fleck said the goal for 2026 remains ambitious.
“We would like to go back-to-back and be the first UCT team to do that,” he said.
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Meanwhile, Varsity College have been promoted to the Varsity Cup after winning the Varsity Shield. They will compete in the top tier under the Emeris name in 2026.
Club manager Malcolm Kennedy said promotion confirmed the programme’s progress.
“Winning the Varsity Shield in only our second season showed that our structures are in place and that we belong at this level,” Kennedy said.
Head coach Jeremy McLaren added: “It’s a big step for the university and the players. We’re proud to be part of the Varsity Cup and excited about the challenge.”
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
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