# 2014 Varsity Shield

The 2014 Varsity Shield was contested from 27 January to 31 March 2014. The tournament (also known as the FNB Varsity Shield presented by Steinhoff International for sponsorship reasons) was the fourth season of the Varsity Shield, an annual second-tier inter-university rugby union competition featuring five South African universities.
The tournament was won by CUT Ixias for the second consecutive time and third time overall; they beat UKZN Impi 35–26 in the final played on 31 March 2015. CUT Ixias were automatically promoted to the top-tier Varsity Cup competition for 2015, but UKZN Impi lost their promotion play-off match against UJ to remain in the Varsity Shield for 2015. Bottom side TUT Vikings won their relegation play-off match against challengers NWU Vaal Triangle to also remain in the Varsity Shield for 2015.

## Rules

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.

## Competition

There were five participating universities in the 2014 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 2015 Varsity Cup competition, while the bottom team in the Varsity Cup was relegated to the 2015 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 2014 season.

## Teams

2014 Varsity Shield teams :
| Team name | University | Stadium |
| CUT Ixias | Central University of Technology | CUT Stadium, Bloemfontein |
| 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 | Peter Booysen Sports Park, Pietermaritzburg |
| UKZN Impi | University of KwaZulu-Natal | Howard College Rugby Stadium, Durban |
| UWC | University of the Western Cape | UWC Sport Stadium, Cape Town |

## Standings

The final league standings for the 2014 Varsity Shield were:
2014 Varsity Shield standings :
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | CUT Ixias | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 255 | 171 | +84 | 35 | 21 | 6 | 1 | 31 |
| 2 | UKZN Impi | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 246 | 171 | +75 | 31 | 21 | 4 | 3 | 25 |
| 3 | UFH Blues | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 215 | 217 | −2 | 27 | 28 | 4 | 0 | 22 |
| 4 | UWC | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 199 | 240 | −41 | 24 | 29 | 3 | 1 | 16 |
| 5 | TUT Vikings | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 184 | 300 | −116 | 23 | 41 | 3 | 2 | 13 |
Legend and competition rules :
| Legend: ||||
| | Top two teams; qualify to 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 |
| | Bottom team; 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 two teams will qualify to the final, with the higher-placed team having home advantage. The winner of the final will automatically be promoted, while the runner-up will qualify to the promotion play-off against the seventh-ranked Varsity Cup team. The bottom team will qualify to the relegation play-off against a team outside of the Varsity Rugby structure. 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

| Team Progression – 2014 Varsity Shield |
| Team | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | Final |
| CUT Ixias | 4 (2nd) | 4 (3rd) | 9 (2nd) | 14 (1st) | 16 (1st) | 21 (1st) | 26 (1st) | 31 (1st) | 31 (1st) | 31 (1st) | Won |
| UKZN Impi | 1 (3rd) | 2 (5th) | 2 (5th) | 7 (3rd) | 12 (2nd) | 14 (2nd) | 15 (2nd) | 15 (2nd) | 20 (2nd) | 25 (2nd) | Lost |
| UFH Blues | 0 (5th) | 4 (4th) | 5 (4th) | 5 (5th) | 10 (3rd) | 12 (3rd) | 12 (3rd) | 12 (4th) | 17 (3rd) | 22 (3rd) | — |
| UWC | 4 (1st) | 6 (1st) | 6 (3rd) | 6 (4th) | 6 (5th) | 6 (5th) | 11 (4th) | 15 (3rd) | 16 (4th) | 16 | — |
| TUT Vikings | 0 (4th) | 5 (2nd) | 10 (1st) | 10 (2nd) | 10 (4th) | 10 (4th) | 10 (5th) | 11 (5th) | 11 (5th) | 13 (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 | |

## Fixtures

The 2014 Varsity Shield fixtures were as follows:
* All times are South African (GMT+2).

### Round one

* Bye/s: TUT Vikings

### Round two

* Bye/s: CUT Ixias

### Round three

* Bye/s: UKZN Impi

### Round four

* Bye/s: UFH Blues

### Round five

* Bye/s: UWC

### Round six

* Bye/s: TUT Vikings

### Round seven

* Bye/s: UFH Blues

### Round eight

* Bye/s: UKZN Impi

### Round nine

* Bye/s: CUT Ixias

### Round ten

* Bye/s: UWC

### Final
## Players
### Player statistics

The following table contains points which have been scored in the 2014 Varsity Shield.
All point scorers :
| No | Player | Team | T | C | P | DG | Pts |
| 1 | Duan Pretorius | CUT Ixias | 5 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 88 |
| 2 | Freddie Muller | UWC | 1 | 19 | 11 | 0 | 84 |
| 3 | Morné Hugo | TUT Vikings | 0 | 19 | 5 | 1 | 69 |
| 4 | Oliver Zono | UFH Blues | 5 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 68 |
| 5 | Duncan Campbell | UKZN Impi | 2 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 59 |
| 6 | Noël Marx | CUT Ixias | 1 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 37 |
| 7 | Brendan Cope | UKZN Impi | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 33 |
| 8 | Shayne Makombe | UKZN Impi | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 |
| 9 | Lwazi Ngcungama | UKZN Impi | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| 9 | Danie van der Merwe | CUT Ixias | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| 9 | Kabous van Schalkwyk | UKZN Impi | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| 12 | Brandon Bailing | UKZN Impi | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 12 | Deon Gouws | CUT Ixias | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 12 | Charlie Hitchcock | CUT Ixias | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 12 | Pieter Matthews | TUT Vikings | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 12 | Gaybrin Smith | TUT Vikings | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 12 | James Verity-Amm | UWC | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 12 | Cameron Wright | UKZN Impi | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 19 | Saneliso Ngoma | UFH Blues | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| 20 | Deon Carney | UKZN Impi | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 20 | Fanie Coetzer | CUT Ixias | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 20 | Onke Dubase | UFH Blues | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 20 | Stephan Griesel | CUT Ixias | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 20 | Lithabile Mgwadleka | UFH Blues | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 20 | Minenhle Mthethwa | UWC | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 20 | Kholo Ramashala | CUT Ixias | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 20 | Lundi Ralarala | UFH Blues | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 20 | Garth van Rayner | UFH Blues | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 20 | Johan van Schalkwyk | CUT Ixias | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 30 | Bangi Kobese | UFH Blues | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| 31 | Moekoa Bolofo | CUT Ixias | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 31 | Masixole David | UFH Blues | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 31 | Billy Dutton | UFH Blues | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 31 | Dean Herbert | UWC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 31 | Hamish Herd | TUT Vikings | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 31 | Adriaan Joubert | TUT Vikings | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 31 | Lukhanyiso Komani | UFH Blues | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 31 | Quaid Langeveldt | UWC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 31 | Rico Lategan | UKZN Impi | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 31 | Mandla Mdaka | TUT Vikings | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 31 | Alec Mhlanga | CUT Ixias | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 31 | Njabulo Ndlovu | UWC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 31 | Frans Sisita | CUT Ixias | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 31 | Yondela Stampu | UWC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 31 | Andries Truter | TUT Vikings | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 31 | Melik Wana | UWC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 31 | Kenwinn Wiener | UWC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 31 | Zwela Zondi | UKZN Impi | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 49 | Tahriq Allan | UWC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 49 | Henri Boshoff | UKZN Impi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 49 | Curtly Brinkhuis | TUT Vikings | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 49 | Isak Deetlefs | TUT Vikings | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 49 | Marius Grobler | CUT Ixias | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 49 | Brian Guillen | TUT Vikings | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 49 | Deon Michael Joubert | TUT Vikings | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 49 | José Julies | UWC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 49 | Dean Kauprihanoff | CUT Ixias | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 49 | Bart le Roux | UKZN Impi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 49 | Madoda Mbulelo Ludidi | UFH Blues | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 49 | Athenkosi Manentsa | UFH Blues | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 49 | Juan Maritz | TUT Vikings | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 49 | Yandisa Mdolomba | UKZN Impi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 49 | Ntyara Mkhafu | UFH Blues | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 49 | Sibabalwe Mtsulwana | UFH Blues | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 49 | Dean Muir | UKZN Impi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 49 | Barend Nordeje | TUT Vikings | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 49 | Pat O'Brien | UWC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 49 | Dale van Schalkwyk | UWC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 49 | Ado Wessels | UKZN Impi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 49 | Mzwandile Yalezo | UFH Blues | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 71 | Andile Makinana | UFH Blues | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| * Legend: T = Tries, C = Conversions, P = Penalties, DG = Drop Goals, Pts = Points ||||||||

### Squad lists

The teams released the following squad lists:
CUT Ixias
Forwards
* Gerard Baard
* Moekoa Bolofo
* Fanie Coetzer
* Daniel de Jager
* Deon Gouws
* Johann Grundlingh
* Juan Hugo
* Dean Kauprihanoff
* Hanro Liebenberg
* Vincent Maruping
* Len Noort
* Lyvette Shikwambana
* Frans Sisita
* Theuns Truter
* Danie van der Merwe
* Ian van Wyk
* Jasper Wiese
* Did not play:
* Junior Burger
* Henko de Jager
* Carl Gersbach
* Boetie Maketla
* JJ Nel
* Kevin Pretorius
* Jean-Luke van Zyl
Backs
* Heinrich Bitzi
* Stephan Griesel
* Marius Grobler
* Charlie Hitchcock
* Noël Marx
* Alec Mhlanga
* Johan Nel
* Duan Pretorius
* Kholo Ramashala
* Mosego Toolo
* Johan van Schalkwyk
* Did not play:
* Hanro Pretorius
* Stephan Schutte
* Clinton Toua
Coach
* Skillie Bester
TUT Vikings
Forwards
* Ricardo Burger
* Isak Deetlefs
* Hamish Herd
* Claude Johannes
* Adriaan Joubert
* Ewald Maré
* Juan Maritz
* Armand Marshall
* Pieter Matthews
* Mandla Mdaka
* Barend Nordeje
* David Pieterse
* Werner Serfontein
* Ryan Sim
* Gerrit van Gerwe
* Did not play:
* Jan Arnoldus Els
* Wayne Short
Backs
* Leroy Afrika
* Curtly Brinkhuis
* Deon Fitchet
* Brian Guillen
* Morné Hugo
* Deon Michael Joubert
* Ralphton Minnaar
* Edwin Oliver
* Shane Pretorius
* Gaybrin Smith
* Andries Truter
* Did not play:
* Darrio Bezuidenhout
* Shawn Jaards
* Thabo Mangena
* Thabang Mathebula
* Paul Walters
tbc
* Did not play:
* Quintis Anton Janse van Vuuren
* Janco Muller
* Lindokuhle Sambo
* Diedrichdt Smit
Coach
* André Eloff
UFH Blues
Forwards
* Masixole David
* Onke Dubase
* Billy Dutton
* Madoda Mbulelo Ludidi
* Lwando Mabenge
* Athenkosi Manentsa
* Xola Mapapu
* Ntyara Mkhafu
* Thembelihle Mpapha
* Olwethu Mputla
* Angelo Timothy Nhlapo
* Luzuko Nyabaza
* Siyabulela Sijula
* Sibusiso Sityebi
* Sibabalwe Tshoni
* Mzwandile Yalezo
* Did not play:
* Litha Labase
* Lubabalo Elton Lento
* Zuko Lerula
* Lunga Innocent Nohlwati
Backs
* Bangi Kobese
* Lukhanyiso Komani
* Andile Makinana
* Lithabile Mgwadleka
* Sibabalwe Mtsulwana
* Saneliso Ngoma
* Lundi Ralarala
* Mkhululi Sonqishe
* Garth van Rayner
* Oliver Zono
* Did not play:
* Lungelo Kepe
* Curtis Kleinhans
* Lwando Makhongolo
* Anda Nanto
* Lutho Zatu
tbc
* Did not play:
* Busiwe Fani
* Six Maselwa
Coach
* Elliot Fana
UKZN Impi
Forwards
* Henri Boshoff
* Deon Carney
* Marco Hillebrand
* Michael Hutton
* Gideon Koegelenberg
* Sizwe Kubheka
* Bart le Roux
* Sanele Malwane
* Dean Muir
* Leon Mulder
* Lwazi Ngcungama
* Sabelo Tshabalala
* Kabous van Schalkwyk
* Johan Wagenaar
* Mikyle Webster
* Ado Wessels
* Zwela Zondi
* Did not play:
* Marné Coetzee
* André Greyvenstein
* Matthew Mandioma
* Richard Mhlongo
* Siya Mhlongo
* Luciando Santos
Backs
* Brandon Bailing
* Alrich Brown
* Duncan Campbell
* Brendan Cope
* Spa Dube
* Henkie Groenewald
* Rico Lategan
* Nelson Makhanye
* Shayne Makombe
* Kurt Mavrodaris
* Yandisa Mdolomba
* Garath Meikle
* Philip Molnar
* Gavin Nyawata
* Cameron Wright
* Did not play:
* Ncgebo Masikane
* Mondli Ntshingila
* Ruhan Smit
* Sandile Zulu
tbc
* Did not play:
* Lindo Radebe
Coach
* John Mitchell
UWC
Forwards
* Mogamat Adams
* Tahriq Allan
* Siphiwo Bakeni
* Brandon Beukman
* Samuel Borsah
* Kelvin de Bruyn
* Matthew Faught
* Philbrey Joseph
* José Julies
* Timothy Louw
* Darren Luiters
* Pallo Manuel
* Sebenza Maphumulo
* Heinrich Marcus
* Michael Mkhize
* Njabulo Ndlovu
* Adeeb October
* Pat O'Brien
* William Scott
* Did not play:
* Curtis Beukes
* Oswin Mentoor
Backs
* Dumisani Dyonase
* Dean Herbert
* Keanu Langeveldt
* Quaid Langeveldt
* Minenhle Mthethwa
* Freddie Muller
* Matthew Nortjé
* Warrick Rhoda
* Yondela Stampu
* Dale van Schalkwyk
* James Verity-Amm
* Melik Wana
* Kenwinn Wiener
* Rufus Witbooi
* Did not play:
* Charlton Afrika
* Daniel Bock
* Lubabalo Faleni
* Justin McKay
* Cleo Voster
Coach
* Peter de Villiers

## Honours

| 2014 FNB Varsity Shield Champions: | CUT Ixias |
| Player That Rocks: | Onke Dubase, UFH Blues |
| Forward That Rocks: | Lwazi Nqcungama, UKZN Impi |
| Back That Rocks: | Shayne Makombe, UKZN Impi |
| Top Try Scorers: | Shayne Makombe, UKZN Impi (6) |
| Top Points Scorer: | Duan Pretorius, CUT Ixias (88) |

## Referees

The following referees officiated matches in the 2014 Varsity Shield:
* Rodney Boneparte
* Ben Crouse
* Gerrie de Bruin
* Stephan Geldenhuys
* Quinton Immelman
* Cwengile Jadezweni
* Lusanda Jam
* Jaco Kotze
* Eduan Nel
* Francois Pretorius
* Jaco Pretorius
* Oregopotse Rametsi
* Archie Sehlako
* Lourens van der Merwe