# 2016 Varsity Cup

The 2016 Varsity Cup was contested from 8 February to 11 April 2016. The tournament (also known as the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International for sponsorship reasons) was the ninth season of the Varsity Cup, an annual inter-university rugby union competition featuring eight South African universities.
The tournament was won by NWU Pukke, who beat Maties 7–6 in the final played on 11 April 2016. No team was automatically relegated to the second-tier Varsity Shield competition for 2017 and bottom side UCT Ikey Tigers beat UWC in a relegation play-off to remain in the competition for 2017.
Following a disruption during the 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 would 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.

## Competition rules and information

There were eight participating universities in the 2016 Varsity Cup. These teams played each other once over the course of the season, either 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 qualified for the title play-offs. In the semi-finals, the team that finished first had home advantage against the team that finished fourth, while the team that finished second had home advantage against the team that finished third. The winners of these semi-finals played each other in the final, at the home venue of the higher-placed team.
The bottom team in the Varsity Cup qualified for a relegation play-off against the runner-up of the Varsity Shield at the end of the season.
The Varsity Cup introduced a new scoring system for 2016, where tries could be worth five, seven or nine points, depending on the point where the try-scoring move originated. If the try-scoring move originated in the opponents' 22, it would count five points. If the try-scoring move originated between the halfway line and the opponents' 22, two bonus points were awarded for a seven-point try. If the try originated in the try-scoring team's own half, four bonus points were awarded and the try would be worth nine points. In another change from previous seasons, the points for kicks reverted to the common scoring system used in rugby union – conversions were worth two points, while penalties and drop goals were worth three points.
While the 2014 and 2015 editions of the Varsity Cup saw all matches officiated by two referees, this reverted to just one official for 2016.
The Varsity Cup also retained the White Card system introduced in 2015, but only for the semi-finals and the final. Under this system, either team's coach or captain could refer incidents for further review, similar to the Umpire Decision Review System used in cricket. They could have incidents reviewed that they believed were either given incorrectly or went unnoticed by the on-field referees. Each team was entitled to one review in each half of the match; if a review proved successful, the team retained their white card review for that half, but if it was unsuccessful, they lost the right to further reviews for the remainder of the half.
There were two further changes introduced for the 2016 season. Firstly, if a maul did not move forwards for a period of five seconds, the referee would give the team in possession a further three seconds to use the ball and failure to do so resulted in turnover of possession. Secondly, the traditional "crouch, bind, set" scrum call was changed to "crouch, bind, slide", with the slide call ensuring no impact between the front rows.
There were also some changes to the quota system: the number of players of colour that had to be included in a matchday 23 was increased from six to seven, with three of those in the starting line-up. Teams were allowed to field four first-year students under the age of 22, of which three have to be players of colour. Three additional first-year students could be fielded with no racial quotas, provided they were in Grade 12 at high school in 2015.

## Teams

The following teams took part in the 2016 Varsity Cup competition:
2016 Varsity Cup teams :
| Team name | University | Stadium |
| CUT Ixias | Central University of Technology | CUT Stadium, Bloemfontein |
| Maties | Stellenbosch University | Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch |
| NMMU Madibaz | Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University | NMMU Stadium, Port Elizabeth |
| NWU Pukke | North-West University | Fanie du Toit Sport Ground, Potchefstroom |
| UCT Ikey Tigers | University of Cape Town | UCT Rugby Fields, Cape Town |
| UFS Shimlas | University of the Free State | Shimla Park, Bloemfontein |
| UJ | University of Johannesburg | UJ Stadium, Johannesburg |
| UP Tuks | University of Pretoria | LC de Villiers Stadium, Pretoria |

## Standings

The final standings for the 2016 Varsity Cup were:
| 2016 Varsity Cup standings |
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Maties | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 263 | 122 | +141 | 33 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 29 |
| 2 | UJ | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 254 | 151 | +103 | 26 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 27 |
| 3 | NWU Pukke | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 230 | 166 | +64 | 27 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 26 |
| 4 | UP Tuks | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 333 | 195 | +138 | 38 | 23 | 5 | 1 | 22 |
| 5 | UFS Shimlas | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 210 | 235 | −25 | 26 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
| 6 | CUT Ixias | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 93 | 211 | −118 | 11 | 26 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| 7 | NMMU Madibaz | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 169 | 251 | −82 | 21 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| 8 | UCT Ikey Tigers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 103 | 324 | −221 | 11 | 39 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Legend and competition rules |
| Legend: |
| | Top four teams; qualified to the semi-finals. | 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 |
| | Qualify to the relegation play-offs. | 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: The top four teams qualified to the semi-finals. The first-placed team hosted the fourth-placed team and the second-placed team hosted the third-placed team. The higher-ranked semi-final winner then hosted the lower-ranked semi-final winner in the final. The bottom side qualified for the relegation play-offs. 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 |

### Round-by-round

The table below shows each team's progression throughout the season. For each round, their cumulative points total is shown with the overall log position in brackets:
| Team Progression – 2016 Varsity Cup |
| Team | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | Semi | Final |
| Maties | 5 (1st) | 10 (1st) | 14 (1st) | 19 (1st) | 24 (1st) | 29 (1st) | 29 (1st) | Won | Lost |
| UJ | 4 (3rd) | 8 (3rd) | 12 (3rd) | 12 (4th) | 17 (3rd) | 22 (2nd) | 27 (2nd) | Lost | — |
| NWU Pukke | 5 (2nd) | 7 (4th) | 11 (4th) | 16 (3rd) | 16 (4th) | 21 (3rd) | 26 (3rd) | Won | Won |
| UP Tuks | 0 (7th) | 2 (8th) | 2 (8th) | 7 (5th) | 12 (5th) | 17 (5th) | 22 (4th) | Lost | — |
| UFS Shimlas | 4 (4th) | 9 (2nd) | 14 (2nd) | 18 (2nd) | 19 (2nd) | 19 (4th) | 19 (5th) | — | — |
| CUT Ixias | 0 (8th) | 4 (5th) | 4 (5th) | 5 (6th) | 3 (8th) | 3 (7th) | 8 (6th) | — | — |
| NMMU Madibaz | 1 (6th) | 2 (7th) | 2 (7th) | 2 (7th) | 7 (6th) | 7 (7th) | 7 (7th) | — | — |
| UCT Ikey Tigers | 1 (5th) | 2 (6th) | 2 (6th) | 2 (8th) | 3 (7th) | 3 (8th) | 3 (8th) | — | — |
| Key: | win | draw | loss | |

## Matches

The following matches were played in the 2016 Varsity Cup:

### Final
## Honours

The honour roll for the 2016 Varsity Cup was as follows:
2016 Varsity Cup Honours :
| Champions: | NWU Pukke |
| Player That Rocks: | Mosolwa Mafuma, UFS Shimlas |
| Forward That Rocks: | Beyers de Villiers, Maties |
| Back That Rocks: | Craig Barry, Maties |
| Top Try Scorers: | Duhan van der Merwe, UP Tuks (10) |
| Top Points Scorer: | Divan Nel, UJ (84) |

## Players
### Player statistics

The following table contain points that were scored in the 2016 Varsity Cup:
| All point scorers |
| No | Player | Team | T | TB | C | P | DG | Pts |
| 1 | Divan Nel | UJ | 0 | 0 | 18 | 15 | 1 | 84 |
| 2 | Ernst Stapelberg | Maties | 2 | 0 | 24 | 8 | 0 | 82 |
| 3 | Rhyno Smith | NWU Pukke | 0 | 0 | 21 | 10 | 1 | 75 |
| 4 | Duhan van der Merwe | UP Tuks | 10 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 74 |
| 5 | Joshua Stander | UP Tuks | 0 | 0 | 29 | 4 | 0 | 70 |
| 6 | Sylvian Mahuza | NWU Pukke | 6 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 |
| 7 | Mosolwa Mafuma | UFS Shimlas | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 |
| 7 | Edwill van der Merwe | Maties | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 |
| 9 | Riaan Britz | UP Tuks | 5 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 |
| 9 | Duncan Saal | Maties | 5 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 |
| 11 | Benhard Janse van Rensburg | NWU Pukke | 4 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 34 |
| 11 | Arthur Williams | UFS Shimlas | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 |
| 13 | Aphiwe Dyantyi | UJ | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 |
| 13 | Marco Mason | UFS Shimlas | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 30 |
| 15 | Robert Anderson | UCT Ikey Tigers | 2 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 28 |
| 15 | Meyer van Tonder | CUT Ixias | 1 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 28 |
| 17 | Ivan-John du Preez | NMMU Madibaz | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 |
| 18 | Ronald Brown | UJ | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| 18 | Beyers de Villiers | Maties | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| 18 | Dries Swanepoel | UP Tuks | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| 21 | Stephan Janse van Rensburg | UFS Shimlas | 2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 23 |
| 21 | Tyler Paul | NMMU Madibaz | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| 23 | Jeandré Rudolph | NWU Pukke | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
| 24 | Craig Barry | Maties | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| 24 | Simon Bolze | NMMU Madibaz | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 21 |
| 26 | Kobus van Dyk | Maties | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 27 | Pieter-Steyn de Wet | UFS Shimlas | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| 27 | Jannes Snyman | UJ | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| 29 | Darren Baron | CUT Ixias | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 29 | André Warner | UP Tuks | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| 31 | Wilmar Arnoldi | NWU Pukke | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| 31 | Lucian Cupido | NWU Pukke | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| 33 | Brandon Asher-Wood | Maties | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 33 | Luke van der Smit | UP Tuks | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 35 | Corniel Els | UP Tuks | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 35 | Tom Kean | NMMU Madibaz | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 15 |
| 37 | David Antonites | UJ | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 37 | Tinus de Beer | UP Tuks | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 14 |
| 37 | Remu Malan | Maties | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 37 | Bradley Moolman | UJ | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 37 | Paul Streicher | Maties | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 37 | Louis van der Westhuizen | NWU Pukke | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 37 | Lihleli Xoli | UCT Ikey Tigers | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 44 | Tom Bednall | UCT Ikey Tigers | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
| 45 | Robert de Bruyn | UJ | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 45 | John-Roy Jenkinson | Maties | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 45 | Caswell Khoza | UJ | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 45 | Malherbe Swart | NWU Pukke | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 49 | Brandon Brown | NMMU Madibaz | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 49 | Craig Corbett | Maties | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 49 | Jeremy Jordaan | UJ | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 49 | Bart le Roux | NWU Pukke | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 49 | Duncan Matthews | UP Tuks | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 49 | Len Noort | CUT Ixias | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 49 | Chris Smith | Maties | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| 49 | Ruan Steenkamp | UP Tuks | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 49 | Walt Steenkamp | NWU Pukke | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 49 | Jasper Wiese | CUT Ixias | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 59 | Clyde Davids | UP Tuks | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 59 | Kobus Porter | UJ | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 59 | Warren Swarts | NMMU Madibaz | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 59 | Conraad van Vuuren | UFS Shimlas | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 59 | Keanan van Wyk | UP Tuks | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 59 | Boela Venter | UFS Shimlas | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 65 | Guy Alexander | UCT Ikey Tigers | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 65 | Wian Conradie | UJ | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 65 | Nardus Erasmus | UFS Shimlas | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 65 | Bradley Janse van Rensburg | UCT Ikey Tigers | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 65 | Jaco Jordaan | NWU Pukke | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 65 | Kevin Kaba | NMMU Madibaz | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 65 | Rico Lategan | UCT Ikey Tigers | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 65 | Vincent Maruping | CUT Ixias | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 65 | Vuyani Maqina | UFS Shimlas | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 65 | Chase Morison | UFS Shimlas | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 65 | Carlisle Nel | Maties | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 65 | Nate Nel | UCT Ikey Tigers | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 65 | Yamkela Ngam | NMMU Madibaz | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 65 | SF Nieuwoudt | NMMU Madibaz | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 65 | Junior Pokomela | NMMU Madibaz | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 65 | Jayson Reinecke | NMMU Madibaz | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 81 | Andrew Beerwinkel | UP Tuks | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Renier Botha | UFS Shimlas | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Mauro Bucuchane | CUT Ixias | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Hilio de Abreu | UCT Ikey Tigers | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Jan Enslin | UP Tuks | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Riaan Esterhuizen | NMMU Madibaz | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Aston Fortuin | UP Tuks | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Neethling Fouché | UP Tuks | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Johann Grundlingh | CUT Ixias | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Elandré Huggett | UFS Shimlas | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Nicolaas Immelman | UFS Shimlas | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Marco Klopper | UFS Shimlas | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Ivan Ludick | NMMU Madibaz | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Marzuq Maarman | NMMU Madibaz | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Devon Maré | UJ | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Emmanuel Morowane | UJ | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Brendon Nell | Maties | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Khanyo Ngcukana | UCT Ikey Tigers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Teunis Nieuwoudt | UFS Shimlas | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Etienne Oosthuizen | UJ | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | NJ Oosthuizen | NMMU Madibaz | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Gary Porter | UCT Ikey Tigers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Marno Redelinghuys | NWU Pukke | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Dean Rossouw | CUT Ixias | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Luke Stringer | UCT Ikey Tigers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Clinton Toua | CUT Ixias | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Marco van Staden | UP Tuks | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Keanu Vers | NMMU Madibaz | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | PJ Walters | UJ | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 81 | Lindelwe Zungu | NMMU Madibaz | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| — | penalty try | UP Tuks | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| — | penalty try | Maties | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| — | penalty try | NWU Pukke | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| — | penalty try | UJ | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Note: Two or four Conversions count three points, while penalties and drop goals count two points. * Legend: T = Tries, TB = Try bonus points, C = Conversions, P = Penalties, DG = Drop Goals, Pts = Points. |

### Squads

The following squads were named for the 2016 Varsity Cup:
2016 CUT Ixias squad :
| Forwards | Forwards | Gerard Baard • Justin Basson • Junior Burger • Wikus Davis • Johann Grundlingh • Günther Janse van Vuuren • Sylvester Makakole • George Marich • Vincent Maruping • Rayno Nel • Len Noort • Dean Rossouw • SJ Roux • Neil Schoombee • Theunis Truter • Cameron van Heerden • Jean Volkwyn • Jasper Wiese • Did not play: • Stefan Kruger • JJ Nell • Bester Olivier • Ian Smith • Ian van Wyk |
| Backs | Backs | Darren Baron • Mauro Bucuchane • Marius Grobler • Charlie Hitchcock • Henry Immelman • Dean Jacobs • Tiisetso Madonsela • Ali Mgijima • Lethole Mokoena • Olwethu Ndakisa • Johan Nel • Mosego Toolo • Clinton Toua • Meyer van Tonder • Ruan Wasserman • Did not play: • Jesse du Toit • Muller Joubert |
| Coach | Coach | Skillie Bester |
2016 Maties squad :
| Forwards | Forwards | Saud Abrahams • Wesley Adonis • Conal Brown • Craig Corbett • Beyers de Villiers • Ian Groenewald • Martin Groenewald • Marko Janse van Rensburg • John-Roy Jenkinson • Freddie Kirsten • Boeta Kleinhans • Robey Labuschagné • Geor Malan • Derick Marais • Justin Moberly • Johan Momsen • Niel Oelofse • Martin Oosthuizen • Tyron Schultz • Jacobus van der Merwe • Wilhelm van der Sluys • Kobus van Dyk • Janco Venter • Did not play: • Iver Aanhuizen • Michael Smuts de Waal • CF du Toit • Hadley Hendricks • Liam Hendricks • Devon Nash • Francois Jacobus van der Merwe |
| Backs | Backs | Brandon Asher-Wood • Craig Barry • Bjorn Bernardo • SP Ferreira • Carlton Fortune • Remu Malan • Carlisle Nel • Brendon Nell • Duncan Saal • Chris Smit • Chris Smith • Ernst Stapelberg • Kyle Steyn • Paul Streicher • Edwill van der Merwe • Braam Venter • Jason Worrall • Did not play: • Eduan Keyter • Ronald Rijk Albertus Melck • Louis Nel • James Edward Vorster |
| Coach | Coach | Hawies Fourie |
2016 NMMU Madibaz squad :
| Forwards | Forwards | Tango Balekile • Ronnie Beyl • Brandon Brown • Wynand Grassmann • Jedwyn Harty • Gerrit Huisamen • JP Jamieson • Kevin Kaba • Marzuq Maarman • SF Nieuwoudt • Andisa Ntsila • NJ Oosthuizen • Tyler Paul • Junior Pokomela • Jayson Reinecke • Nemo Roelofse • Hayden Tharratt • Elandré van der Merwe • Warrick Venter • Did not play: • Lusanda Badiyana • Greg Jackson • JP Jonck • Sintu Manjezi • Roché van Zyl • CJ Velleman • Xandré Vos |
| Backs | Backs | Simon Bolze • Luvo Claassen • Ivan-John du Preez • Riaan Esterhuizen • Andile Jho • Tom Kean • Ivan Ludick • Khaya Malotana • Yamkela Ngam • Sibusiso Ngcokovane • Luan Nieuwoudt • Warren Swarts • Keanu Vers • Jeremy Ward • Lindelwe Zungu • Did not play: • Davron Cameron • Malcolm Jaer • Somila Jho • Garrick Mattheus • Athi Mayinje • Charles Radebe • Franswa Ueckermann • Courtney Winnaar |
| Coach | Coach | David Maidza |
2016 NWU-Pukke squad :
| Forwards | Forwards | Wilmar Arnoldi • Dewald Dekker • Danie Jordaan • Jaco Jordaan • Bart le Roux • Tiaan Liebenberg • Mogau Mabokela • Mash Mafela • Loftus Morrison • Marno Redelinghuys • Jeandré Rudolph • Joe Smith • Walt Steenkamp • Gideon van der Merwe • Louis van der Westhuizen • Ruan Venter • Did not play: • Wian Fourie • Louis Grey • Roan Grobbelaar • Funani Mabala • DJ Putter • Bhekisa Shongwe • Dolf van Deventer • Estehan Visagie |
| Backs | Backs | Lucian Cupido • Johan Deysel • Schalk Hugo • Benhard Janse van Rensburg • Sylvian Mahuza • Henko Marais • Nkululeko Mcuma • Akhona Nela • Elden Schoeman • Chriswill September • Rhyno Smith • Dean Stokes • Malherbe Swart • Ryno Wepener • Percy Williams • Did not play: • Jaco Hayward • Eswyn Heyns • Tapiwa Mafura • Alvino Montjies • Francois Nel • Ryno Pienaar • Gene Willemse |
| Coach | Coach | Jonathan Mokuena |
2016 UCT Ikey Tigers squad :
| Forwards | Forwards | Guy Alexander • Joel Carew • Brenton Greaves • Olwethu Hans • Jason Klaasen • Jade Kriel • Michael Kumbirai • Jayson Landman • David Maasch • Struan Murray • Sean Paterson • Gary Porter • Mark Prior • Duncan Saffy • Alva Senderayi • Luke Stringer • Nyasha Tarusenga • Samuel Theron • Keagan Timm • Msizi Zondi • Did not play: • Brendan Ross Clements • Alex Goldstein • Aphiwe Qaba • Stuart Stopforth • Tino Zakeyo |
| Backs | Backs | Robert Anderson • Kofi Appiah • Tom Bednall • Suwi Chibale • Hilio de Abreu • Justin Heunis • Bradley Janse van Rensburg • Rico Lategan • Nate Nel • Khanyo Ngcukana • Gerard Pieterse • Sebastian Roodt • Joel Smith • Dylan-Lee Tidbury • Steve Wallace • Lihleli Xoli • Did not play: • Stefano de Gouveia • Paul Hendry • Rayno Mapoe • Jesse Wilensky |
| Coach | Coach | Hanyani Shimange |
2016 UFS Shimlas squad :
| Forwards | Forwards | Anrich Alberts • Murray Bondesio • Dolph Botha • Neil Claassen • Nardus Erasmus • Elandré Huggett • Nicolaas Immelman • Thabiso Khanye • Marco Klopper • Johan Kotze • Willandré Kotzenberg • Daniel Maartens • Musa Mahlasela • Chase Morison • Ox Nché • Teunis Nieuwoudt • Fiffy Rampeta • Conraad van Vuuren • Boela Venter • Reinach Venter • Ntokozo Vidima • Dennis Visser • Did not play: • De Wet Kruger • Hennie-Schalk Theron |
| Backs | Backs | Renier Botha • Carel-Jan Coetzee • Pieter-Steyn de Wet • Apiwe Dinga • Pieter Faber • Stephan Janse van Rensburg • Mosolwa Mafuma • Vuyani Maqina • Marco Mason • Sechaba Matsoele • Naldo Meyer • Zee Mkhabela • Armand Pretorius • Arthur Williams • Did not play: • Barend Bornman • TJ Goddard • Michael Coenraad Marx • Tanaks Takudzwa Matsinde • Francois Pretorius • Louis Venter |
| Coach | Coach | Hendro Scholtz |
2016 UJ squad :
| Forwards | Forwards | David Antonites • Derick Bezuidenhout • Wian Conradie • Nico du Plessis • Jeremy Jordaan • Kyle Kruger • Emmanuel Morowane • Siya Nzuzo • Etienne Oosthuizen • FP Pelser • Kobus Porter • Phenyo Seriteng • Jannes Snyman • Kyle van Dalen • Waldo Weideman • Did not play: • Dillon Bakos • Stephen Bhasera • Roelof Diedericks • Estian Enslin • Brendon Landsberg • Ethan Louw • Vernon Petersen |
| Backs | Backs | Ronald Brown • Robert de Bruyn • Aphiwe Dyantyi • Kobus Engelbrecht • Johan Esterhuizen • Caswell Khoza • Dominic Kroezen • Devon Maré • Bradley Moolman • Hilton Mudariki • Divan Nel • Andries Oosthuizen • Godfrey Ramaboea • PJ Walters • Did not play: • Jamie Campbell • Jaco Fourie |
| Coach | Coach | Skollie Janse van Rensburg |
2016 UP Tuks squad :
| Forwards | Forwards | Andrew Beerwinkel • FJ Binneman • Clyde Davids • Fred Eksteen • Corniel Els • Gerrit Engelbrecht • Jan Enslin • Aston Fortuin • Justin Forwood • Neethling Fouché • Du Toit Genis • Pieter Jansen van Vuren • Eli Snyman • Ruan Steenkamp • Luke van der Smit • Marco van Staden • Did not play: • Mervano da Silva • Pieter Griesel • Denzel Hill • Sam Mitchell • Hendré Stassen • Jsuan-re Swanepoel • Franco van den Berg • Dandré van der Westhuizen • Xander van Wyk • Heinrich Viljoen |
| Backs | Backs | Riaan Britz • Max Calitz • Tinus de Beer • Carlo Engelbrecht • Stedman Gans • Quaid Langeveldt • Adrian Maebane • Duncan Matthews • Joshua Stander • Dries Swanepoel • Duhan van der Merwe • Keanan van Wyk • André Warner • Did not play: • Daylan Daniels • Boeta Hamman • Alcino Izaacs • Andries Kruger • Theo Maree • Philip Orffer • Jacques Rossouw • Peet Schoeman • Francois Tredoux • Damian van Wyk • Impi Visser |
| Coach | Coach | Pote Human |

### Discipline

The following table contains all the cards handed out during the tournament:
| Cards |
| Player | Team | | |
| Chase Morison | UFS Shimlas | 1 | 0 |
| Jeandré Rudolph | NWU Pukke | 0 | 3 |
| Remu Malan | Maties | 0 | 2 |
| Teunis Nieuwoudt | UFS Shimlas | 0 | 2 |
| Chris Smit | Maties | 0 | 2 |
| Walt Steenkamp | NWU Pukke | 0 | 2 |
| Craig Barry | Maties | 0 | 1 |
| Ronald Brown | UJ | 0 | 1 |
| Joel Carew | UCT Ikey Tigers | 0 | 1 |
| Luvo Claassen | NMMU Madibaz | 0 | 1 |
| Wian Conradie | UJ | 0 | 1 |
| Clyde Davids | UP Tuks | 0 | 1 |
| Beyers de Villiers | Maties | 0 | 1 |
| Fred Eksteen | UP Tuks | 0 | 1 |
| Gerrit Engelbrecht | UP Tuks | 0 | 1 |
| Marius Grobler | CUT Ixias | 0 | 1 |
| Ian Groenewald | Maties | 0 | 1 |
| Olwethu Hans | UCT Ikey Tigers | 0 | 1 |
| Nicolaas Immelman | UFS Shimlas | 0 | 1 |
| Jaco Jordaan | NWU Pukke | 0 | 1 |
| Kevin Kaba | NMMU Madibaz | 0 | 1 |
| Michael Kumbirai | UCT Ikey Tigers | 0 | 1 |
| Marzuq Maarman | NMMU Madibaz | 0 | 1 |
| Marco Mason | UFS Shimlas | 0 | 1 |
| Emmanuel Morowane | UJ | 0 | 1 |
| SF Nieuwoudt | NMMU Madibaz | 0 | 1 |
| Siya Nzuzo | UJ | 0 | 1 |
| Etienne Oosthuizen | UJ | 0 | 1 |
| Eli Snyman | UP Tuks | 0 | 1 |
| Elandré van der Merwe | NMMU Madibaz | 0 | 1 |
| * Legend: = Sent off, = Sin-binned |

## Referees

The following referees officiated matches in the 2016 Varsity Cup:
* Rodney Boneparte
* Ben Crouse
* Stephan Geldenhuys
* AJ Jacobs
* Cwengile Jadezweni
* Jaco Kotze
* Sindile Ngcese
* Francois Pretorius
* Rasta Rasivhenge
* Archie Sehlako
* Lourens van der Merwe