# 2016 Varsity Shield

The 2016 Varsity Shield was contested from 1 February to 18 April 2016. The tournament (also known as the FNB Varsity Shield presented by Steinhoff International for sponsorship reasons) was the sixth season of the Varsity Shield, an annual second-tier inter-university rugby union competition featuring five South African universities.
Following a disruption during the Varsity Cup Round Three match between UFS Shimlas and NMMU Madibaz and general unrest on various university campuses, all fixtures scheduled for 29 February were postponed to 4 April, with the semi-finals and final also postponed by a week. On 1 March, it was also announced that the round of matches scheduled for 7 March would also be postponed, with the situation at various universities being monitored to determine when the competition will resume. After a meeting by the executive management of Varsity Rugby on 9 March, it was decided that all remaining matches in the competition would be played at neutral venues and that matches should resume on 14 March.
The tournament was won by Wits for the second time; they beat UWC 39–2 in the final played on 18 April 2016. Wits was also promoted to the top-tier Varsity Cup competition for 2017.

## Competition rules and information

There were five participating universities in the 2015 Varsity Shield. These teams played each other twice over the course of the season, once at home and once 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 two teams qualified for the title play-offs. These teams played each other in the final, at the home venue of the higher-placed team.
The Varsity Shield winner was promoted to the 2017 Varsity Cup competition, while the bottom team in the Varsity Cup was relegated to the 2017 Varsity Shield. There was also a promotion/relegation match between the 7th-placed team in the Varsity Cup and the Varsity Shield runner-up at the end of the 2016 season. Three new universities will join the Varsity Shield in 2017.
The Varsity Shield used a different scoring system to the regular system. Tries were worth five points as usual, but conversions were worth three points, while penalties and drop goals were only worth two points.

## Teams

2016 Varsity Shield teams :
| Team name | University | Stadium |
| TUT Vikings | Tshwane University of Technology | TUT Stadium, Pretoria |
| UFH Blues | University of Fort Hare | Davidson Rugby Field, Alice |
| UKZN Impi | University of KwaZulu-Natal | Howard College Rugby Stadium, Durban |
| UKZN Impi | University of KwaZulu-Natal | Peter Booysen Sports Park, Pietermaritzburg |
| UWC | University of the Western Cape | UWC Sport Stadium, Cape Town |
| Wits | University of the Witwatersrand | Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg |

## Standings

The final league standings for the 2016 Varsity Shield were:
| 2016 Varsity Shield standings |
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Wits | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 342 | 96 | +246 | 50 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 31 |
| 2 | UWC | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 179 | 186 | −7 | 28 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 24 |
| 3 | UKZN Impi | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 382 | 144 | +238 | 51 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 20 |
| 4 | TUT Vikings | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 136 | 355 | −219 | 17 | 50 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| 5 | UFH Blues | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 102 | 360 | −258 | 14 | 54 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Legend and competition rules |
| Legend: |
| | Promoted to the 2017 Varsity Cup and qualifies to the final. | 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 |
| | Runner-up; will qualify to the final. | 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: |
| Play-offs: Wits and UWC qualified to the final, with Wits hosting UWC. Wits was automatically promoted to the 2017 Varsity Cup, while UWC qualified for a promotion play-off. Points breakdown: * 4 points for a win * 2 points for a draw * 1 bonus point for a loss by eight points or less * 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match |

### Round-by-round

| Team Progression – 2016 Varsity Shield |
| Team | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | Final |
| Wits | 1 (4th) | 6 (2nd) | 6 (3rd) | 11 (2nd) | 16 (2nd) | 17 (2nd) | 22 (1st) | 22 (3rd) | 27 (2nd) | 32 (1st) | Won |
| UWC | 4 (2nd) | 4 (3rd) | 8 (2nd) | 8 (3rd) | 8 (3rd) | 13 (3rd) | 18 (3rd) | 24 (2nd) | 24 (3rd) | 24 (2nd) | Lost |
| UKZN Impi | 4 (1st) | 8 (1st) | 13 (1st) | 18 (1st) | 18 (1st) | 22 (1st) | 22 (2nd) | 27 (1st) | 32 (1st) | 20 (3rd) | — |
| TUT Vikings | 0 (5th) | 0 (5th) | 1 (5th) | 2 (4th) | 3 (5th) | 3 (5th) | 3 (5th) | 3 (4th) | 3 (4th) | 8 (4th) | — |
| UFH Blues | 1 (3rd) | 1 (4th) | 1 (4th) | 1 (5th) | 5 (4th) | 5 (4th) | 5 (4th) | 3 (5th) | 3 (5th) | 5 (5th) | — |
| 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 | bye | |

## Matches

The following matches were played in the 2016 Varsity Shield:

### Round one

* Bye/s: TUT Vikings

### Round two

* Bye/s: UFH Blues

### Round three

* Bye/s: Wits

### Round four

* Bye/s: UWC

### Round five

* Bye/s: UKZN Impi

### Round six

* Bye/s: TUT Vikings

### Round seven

* Bye/s: UFH Blues

### Round eight

* Bye/s: Wits

### Round nine

* Bye/s: UWC

### Round ten

* Bye/s: UKZN Impi

### Final
## Honours

The honour roll for the 2016 Varsity Shield was as follows:
2016 Varsity Shield Honours :
| Champions: | Wits |
| Player That Rocks: | Thobekani Buthelezi, UKZN Impi |
| Forward That Rocks: | Rhyno Herbst, Wits |
| Back That Rocks: | Aidynn Cupido, UWC |
| Top Try Scorers: | Thobekani Buthelezi, UKZN Impi (9) |
| Top Points Scorer: | Tristan Tedder, UKZN Impi (114) |

## Players
### Player statistics

The following table contain points that were scored in the 2016 Varsity Shield:
| All point scorers |
| No | Player | Team | T | C | P | DG | Pts |
| 1 | Tristan Tedder | UKZN Impi | 2 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 114 |
| 2 | Warren Gilbert | Wits | 1 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 82 |
| 3 | Aidynn Cupido | UWC | 4 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 47 |
| 4 | Thobekani Buthelezi | UKZN Impi | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 |
| 5 | Lukas van Zyl | TUT Vikings | 1 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 38 |
| 6 | Tristan Blewett | UKZN Impi | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 |
| 6 | CJ Conradie | Wits | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 |
| 8 | Constant Beckerling | Wits | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| 8 | Curwin Bosch | UKZN Impi | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 25 |
| 8 | Josh Jarvis | Wits | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| 8 | Shayne Makombe | UKZN Impi | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| 8 | Kwanele Ngema | Wits | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| 8 | Luvuyo Pupuma | Wits | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| 8 | Kerron van Vuuren | UKZN Impi | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| 15 | Siviwe Bisset | UFH Blues | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 21 |
| 16 | Sicelo Champion | TUT Vikings | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 16 | Shawn Jaards | TUT Vikings | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 16 | Grant Rattray | UKZN Impi | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 19 | Elandre Sias | UFH Blues | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| 20 | Conor Brockschmidt | Wits | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 20 | Philbrey Joseph | UWC | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 20 | José Julies | UWC | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 20 | Marius Louw | UKZN Impi | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 20 | Ruan Macdonald | Wits | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 20 | S'busiso Nkosi | UKZN Impi | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 20 | Tshepo Nyathi | TUT Vikings | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 20 | Peter Wanjiru | UWC | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 28 | Akhona Matutu | UFH Blues | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| 29 | Richard Crossman | Wits | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 29 | Asiphe Fihla | UFH Blues | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 29 | Dean Herbert | UWC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 29 | Rhyno Herbst | Wits | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 29 | Claude Johannes | TUT Vikings | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 29 | Marcus Kleinbooi | UWC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 29 | Christo Lategan | TUT Vikings | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 29 | Calvin Maduna | TUT Vikings | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 29 | Jason Marcus | UWC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 29 | Thato Marobela | Wits | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 29 | Ian Truter | TUT Vikings | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 29 | Pierre van der Walt | UKZN Impi | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 29 | Wade Worthington | Wits | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 42 | Darian Hock | UWC | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 42 | Kyle Wesemann | Wits | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 44 | Athiphila Mlotywa | UFH Blues | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 45 | Andrew Acton | UKZN Impi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Wikus Badenhorst | UKZN Impi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Luyolo Batshise | UFH Blues | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Byron Burgess | UWC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Ruan Cloete | Wits | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Courtney Cupido | UWC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Clayton Daniels | UWC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Jean Droste | UKZN Impi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Matthew Faught | UWC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Chestwin Gaffley | TUT Vikings | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Lukho Jongizulu | UFH Blues | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Morné Joubert | UKZN Impi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Jaywinn Juries | UKZN Impi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Matthew le Roux | UWC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | George Letshuma | TUT Vikings | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Wayrin Losper | UWC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Kurt MacKay | TUT Vikings | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Athenkosi Makeleni | UFH Blues | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Aziyena Mandaba | UFH Blues | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Ayebulela Mdudi | UFH Blues | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | John-Hubert Meyer | UKZN Impi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Michael Meyer | UKZN Impi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Blake Mingay | UKZN Impi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Dumisane Mthethwa | TUT Vikings | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Minenhle Mthethwa | UWC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Sibongile Novuka | UFH Blues | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Misugukhosi Pienaar | UFH Blues | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Gordon-Wayne Plaatjies | UWC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Sesethu Time | UFH Blues | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Brandon Valentyn | UWC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Tijde Visser | Wits | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Ado Wessels | UKZN Impi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 45 | Zwela Zondi | UKZN Impi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 78 | Frank Abrahams | TUT Vikings | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 78 | Spa Dube | UKZN Impi | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 78 | Luxolo Ntsepe | Wits | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 78 | AJ van Blerk | Wits | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 78 | Melik Wana | UWC | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| — | penalty try | Wits | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Note: Conversions count three points, while penalties and drop goals count two points. * Legend: T = Tries, C = Conversions, P = Penalties, DG = Drop Goals, Pts = Points. |

### Squads

The following squads were named for the 2016 Varsity Shield:
2016 TUT Vikings squad :
| Forwards | Forwards | Francois de Villiers • Chestwin Gaffley • Dehan Groenewald • Jurie Huyser • Claude Johannes • Wessel Jordaan • Christo Lategan • George Letshuma • Calvin Maduna • Armand Marshall • Percy Matlhoko • Ratsaka Modjadji • DK Mukendi • Jacob Nelson • Kevin Nkateko • William Thomson • Schalk van Niekerk • Cornelius van Rooyen • Jonty Voogt • Did not play: • Erich Broodrijk • Gilbert Chalmers • Ian Ewart • James Frost • Jean-Claude le Roux • Albert Lubbe • Mandla Mdaka • Ryan Sim • Wian van Schalkwyk |
| Backs | Backs | Frank Abrahams • Lisa Banzi • Arno Brits • Mfundo Gumede • Shawn Jaards • Kurt MacKay • Dumisane Mthethwa • Tshepo Nyathi • Ian Truter • Lukas van Zyl • Litha Vumisa • Did not play: • Dalton Peter Dreyer • Cascious Andilj Dube • Runaldo Hendricks • Dikgang John Jabar • Melusi Meluleki Ndwandwe • Welcome Ngwenya • Ulikhaya Lavuya Nqoto • Bongani Phangisa • Gahno Bradley Calten Prins |
| Coach | Coach | Hennie Pieterse |
2016 UFH Blues squad :
| Forwards | Forwards | Justin Riaan Antonie • Asiphe Fanele • Lulamile Kama • Lwando Mabenge • Athenkosi Makeleni • Bulelani Mdodana • Olwethu Mputla • Philisani Ncoko • Lusindiso Nkomo • Lwando Nteta • Misugukhosi Pienaar • Siphesihle Punguzwa • Zanoxolo Qwele • Sibusiso Sityebi • Hendri Storm • Sesethu Time • Mzinga Vitsha • Malusi Vula • Did not play: • Sakhumzi Bobi • Daniel Caku-Caku • Tsepo Themba Gcanga • Siphelele Njobeni • Ntsika Nyalambisa • Ashley Prince |
| Backs | Backs | Luyolo Batshise • Siviwe Bisset • Asiphe Fihla • Lukho Jongizulu • Aziyena Mandaba • Qama Masiza • Akhona Matutu • Athiphila Mlotywa • Sibongile Novuka • Elandre Sias • Sethu Tom • Siphosethu Tsotsa • Siphuxolo Zaula • Did not play: • Curwin Jacobus • Geraldo Joseph • Ntsika Kula • Lee Mavuso • Patrick Mbangi • Lithabile Mgwadleka • Sithembiso Ngwenya • Sivakele Ulana |
| Coach | Coach | Lumumba Currie |
2016 UKZN Impi squad :
| Forwards | Forwards | Andrew Acton • Jean Droste • Erich Kankowski • Sanele Malwane • Jordan Martin • Khuthu Mchunu • John-Hubert Meyer • Michael Meyer • Ntando Mpofana • Clive Musasiwa • Kwezi Puza • Lindo Radebe • Christie van der Merwe • Pierre van der Walt • Kerron van Vuuren • Mikyle Webster • Ado Wessels • Zwela Zondi • Rikus Zwart • Did not play: • Siya Mhlongo |
| Backs | Backs | Wikus Badenhorst • Tristan Blewett • Curwin Bosch • Thobekani Buthelezi • Spa Dube • Morné Joubert • Jaywinn Juries • Marius Louw • Shayne Makombe • Blake Mingay • S'busiso Nkosi • Grant Rattray • Langelihle Shange • Tristan Tedder • Alwayno Visagie • Did not play: • Richard Bamber • Alrich Brown • Ilunga Mukendi • Michael Sibiya • Zweli Silaule • Sandile Zulu |
| Coach | Coach | Michael Horak |
2016 UWC squad :
| Forwards | Forwards | Tahriq Allan • Stuart Austin • Brandon Beukman • Alwyn Carstens • Kelvin de Bruyn • Sabelo Dlamini • Keenan Douw • Matthew Faught • Philbrey Joseph • José Julies • Matthew le Roux • Wayrin Losper • Darren Luiters • Jeremy Papier • Robin Paulse • Verno Treu • Brandon Valentyn • Peter Wanjiru • Did not play: • Axolile Apleni • Bradley Jumaats • Heynes Kotze • George Piet Taona Saungweme • Tiaan Smuts |
| Backs | Backs | Byron Burgess • Aidynn Cupido • Courtney Cupido • Clayton Daniels • Lubabalo Faleni • Dean Herbert • Darian Hock • Marcus Kleinbooi • Monre Lingeveldt • Jason Marcus • Jacquin Moses • Ruan Mostert • Minenhle Mthethwa • Matthew Nortjé • Gordon-Wayne Plaatjes • Yaasien Railoun • Octaven van Stade • Wilbré van Wyk • Melik Wana • Did not play: • Carlisle Castle • Niyaas Johnson • Rufus Witbooi |
| Coach | Coach | Chester Williams |
2016 Wits squad :
| Forwards | Forwards | Constant Beckerling • Conor Brockschmidt • CJ Conradie • Richard Crossman • Mitchell Fraser • Rhyno Herbst • Craig Hume • Graham Logan • Ruan Macdonald • Ayabulela Mdudi • Brandon Palmer • Luvuyo Pupuma • Tijde Visser • Ameer Williams • Did not play: • Justin Brandon • Jethi de Lange • CJ Greeff • Matthys Johannes Human • Pascal Snyman • JP Swart • Gihard Visagie |
| Backs | Backs | Sicelo Champion • Ruan Cloete • Wian Coetzee • Warren Gilbert • Josh Jarvis • Thato Marobela • Kwanele Ngema • Luxolo Ntsepe • AJ van Blerk • Kyle Wesemann • Wade Worthington • Did not play: • Paolo Andrews • Bin Kasende Kapepula • Divan Minnaar • Sibusiso Mngomezulu • Kyle Schachat • Dandré van den Berg |
| Coach | Coach | Hugo van As |

### Discipline

The following table contains all the cards handed out during the tournament:
Cards :
| Player | Team | | |
| Zanoxolo Qwele | UFH Blues | 1 | 2 |
| Luyolo Batshise | UFH Blues | 1 | 0 |
| George Letshuma | TUT Vikings | 0 | 2 |
| Tahriq Allan | UWC | 0 | 1 |
| Justin Riaan Antonie | UFH Blues | 0 | 1 |
| Stuart Austin | UWC | 0 | 1 |
| Tristan Blewett | UKZN Impi | 0 | 1 |
| Conor Brockschmidt | Wits | 0 | 1 |
| Sicelo Champion | Wits | 0 | 1 |
| Sabelo Dlamini | UWC | 0 | 1 |
| Matthew Faught | UWC | 0 | 1 |
| Chestwin Gaffley | TUT Vikings | 0 | 1 |
| Rhyno Herbst | Wits | 0 | 1 |
| Craig Hume | Wits | 0 | 1 |
| Athiphila Mlotywa | UFH Blues | 0 | 1 |
| Dumisane Mthethwa | TUT Vikings | 0 | 1 |
| S'busiso Nkosi | UKZN Impi | 0 | 1 |
| Sibongile Novuka | UFH Blues | 0 | 1 |
| Tshepo Nyathi | TUT Vikings | 0 | 1 |
| Siphesihle Punguzwa | UFH Blues | 0 | 1 |
| Elandre Sias | UFH Blues | 0 | 1 |
| Sibusiso Sityebi | UFH Blues | 0 | 1 |
| Brandon Valentyn | UWC | 0 | 1 |
| Lukas van Zyl | TUT Vikings | 0 | 1 |
| * Legend: = Sent off, = Sin-binned |

## Referees

The following referees officiated matches in the 2016 Varsity Shield:
* Rodney Boneparte
* Ben Crouse
* Stephan Geldenhuys
* AJ Jacobs
* Cwengile Jadezweni
* Pieter Maritz
* Mpho Matsaung
* Ruhan Meiring
* Paul Mente
* Vusi Msibi
* Sindile Ngcese
* Jaco Pretorius
* Oregopotse Rametsi
* Egon Seconds
* Ricus van der Hoven