# 2021 Varsity Cup

The 2021 Varsity Cup was the 14th season of the Varsity Cup, the top competition in the annual Varsity Rugby series. It was played between 4 February and 31 May 2021 and featured ten university teams.
NMU Madibaz won promotion from the Varsity Shield in 2019.

## Competition rules and information

There were ten participating university teams in the 2021 Varsity Cup. They played each other once during the pool stage, either at home or away. Teams received four points for a win and two points for a draw. Bonus points were awarded to teams that scored four or more tries in a game, as well as to teams that lost a match by seven points or less. Teams were ranked by log points, then points difference (points scored less points conceded).
The top four teams after the pool stage qualified for the semifinals, which were followed by a final.
This tournaments will take place in a secure Covid-19 bio-bubble called the FNB Varsity Cup Village, matches will be played at Tuks Stadium, the Tuks B-Field and Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

## Teams

* Location of teams in the 2019 Varsity Cup
* CUT IxiasNWU Eagles UFS ShimlasUJUP TuksWitsNMU MadibazWestern Cape
* Western Cape
* MatiesUCT Ikey TigersUWC
The teams that played in the 2019 Varsity Cup are:
| 2019 Varsity Cup teams |
| Team name | University |
| CUT Ixias | Central University of Technology |
| Maties | Stellenbosch University |
| NMU Madibaz | Nelson Mandela University |
| NWU Eagles | North-West University |
| UCT Ikey Tigers | University of Cape Town |
| UFS Shimlas | University of the Free State |
| UJ | University of Johannesburg |
| UP Tuks | University of Pretoria |
| UWC | University of the Western Cape |
| Wits | University of the Witwatersrand |

## Pool stage
### Standings

The final log for the 2021 Varsity Cup was:
| 2021 Varsity Cup log |
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | BP | Pts |
| 1 | UCT Ikey Tigers | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | | | 174 | | | | | 7 | 41 |
| 2 | Maties | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2 | | | 160 | | | | | 7 | 35 |
| 3 | UP Tuks | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | | | 145 | | | | | 8 | 34 |
| 4 | NWU Eagles | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | | | 13 | | | | | 6 | 30 |
| 5 | CUT Ixias | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | | | -25 | | | | | 5 | 29 |
| 6 | UWC | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | | | 0 | | | | | 6 | 20 |
| 7 | UFS Shimlas | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | | | -119 | | | | | 8 | 18 |
| 8 | Wits | 9 | 3 | 0 | 6 | | | 37 | | | | | 5 | 17 |
| 9 | UJ | 9 | 2 | 0 | 7 | | | -120 | | | | | 7 | 15 |
| 10 | NMU Madibaz | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | | | -265 | | | | | 5 | 5 |
| Correct as at 31 May 2021. |
| Legend and competition rules |
| Legend: |
| | Qualified for the semifinals. | P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games 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 |
| Competition rules: |
| Qualification: The top four teams qualified for the semifinals. 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 |

### Matches

The following matches were played in the 2021 Varsity Cup:

## Play-offs

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| 28 May - Tuks Rugby Stadium | 28 May - Tuks Rugby Stadium |
| UCT Ikey Tigers | 54 |
| UCT Ikey Tigers | 54 | 31 May – Tuks Rugby Stadium | 31 May – Tuks Rugby Stadium |
| NWU Eagles | 36 | 31 May – Tuks Rugby Stadium | 31 May – Tuks Rugby Stadium |
| NWU Eagles | 36 | UCT Ikey Tigers | 27 |
| 28 May – Tuks Rugby Stadium | 28 May – Tuks Rugby Stadium | | UCT Ikey Tigers | 27 |
| 28 May – Tuks Rugby Stadium | 28 May – Tuks Rugby Stadium | UP Tuks | 34 |
| Maties | 34 | UP Tuks | 34 |
| UP Tuks | 44 | | |