University of Pretoria Wins Record Sixth Varsity Cup Title

The University of Pretoria made history on April 13, claiming their record-breaking sixth Varsity Cup title with a commanding 31-3 win over North-West University in a rain-soaked final.

The victory pushes Tuks past Stellenbosch University to stand alone as the most successful side in the competition's history. The crowd roared as the team dominated both offense and defense throughout the muddy showdown.

Player of the final Andile Myeni scored the night's most spectacular try, racing to a loose ball and kicking it forward before touching down for seven points. The Tuks offense was relentless all season, scoring four or more tries in every single game.

"I'm immensely proud of the boys," said head coach Dewey Swartbooi. "The character of this team is something to behold."

The Ripple Effect

What makes this championship even sweeter is where Tuks came from. In 2023, the team was relegated to the second-tier Varsity Shield, a devastating blow that felt like letting down all of Pretoria.

Swartbooi, who was assistant coach during the relegation, took over the program with one mission: restore pride to the jersey. The team responded by dominating the Varsity Shield, becoming the only university to win both that competition and the Varsity Cup.

They reached the semifinals in 2025, then completed their redemption arc with this year's title. "Never again should a university like Tuks get relegated," Swartbooi said. "We need to represent the people that went before us."

The Varsity Cup continues proving itself as South Africa's premier college rugby competition and a pipeline to professional careers. This year's standout players included University of Johannesburg captain Thabang Mphafi, who earned Player of the Season honors, and Tuks hooker Jean Fourie, who led his team with nine tries.

Meanwhile, Wits celebrated their own success with an unbeaten Varsity Shield campaign that earned them promotion back to the top flight for 2027.

From rock bottom to record books in three years, Tuks proved that setbacks can fuel the greatest comebacks.