# 2019 Varsity Cup

The 2019 Varsity Cup was the 12th season of the Varsity Cup, the top competition in the annual Varsity Rugby series. It was played between 4 February and 22 April 2019 and featured nine university teams.
There was a debut in the competition for UWC, who won promotion from the Varsity Shield in 2018.

## Competition rules and information

There were nine participating university teams in the 2019 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.

## Teams

* Location of teams in the 2019 Varsity Cup
* CUT IxiasNWU PukkeUFS ShimlasUJUP TuksWitsWestern Cape
* Western Cape
* MatiesUCT Ikey TigersUWC
The teams that played in the 2019 Varsity Cup are:
| 2019 Varsity Cup teams |
| Team name | University | Stadium |
| CUT Ixias | Central University of Technology | CUT Stadium, Bloemfontein |
| Maties | Stellenbosch University | Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch |
| 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 |
| UWC | University of the Western Cape | UWC Sport Stadium, Cape Town |
| Wits | University of the Witwatersrand | Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg |

## Pool stage
### Standings

The final log for the 2019 Varsity Cup was:
| 2019 Varsity Cup log |
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Maties | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 385 | 129 | +256 | 52 | 18 | 6 | 0 | 38 |
| 2 | UP Tuks | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 284 | 115 | +169 | 38 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 30 |
| 3 | NWU Pukke | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 267 | 152 | +115 | 35 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 29 |
| 4 | UFS Shimlas | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 245 | 255 | -10 | 34 | 35 | 5 | 1 | 22 |
| 5 | UCT Ikey Tigers | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 227 | 262 | −35 | 30 | 34 | 5 | 1 | 20 |
| 6 | Wits | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 215 | 309 | −94 | 30 | 37 | 3 | 1 | 16 |
| 7 | CUT Ixias | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 156 | 276 | −120 | 17 | 39 | 2 | 0 | 14 |
| 8 | UJ | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 159 | 239 | −80 | 20 | 31 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| 9 | UWC | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 198 | 399 | −201 | 26 | 56 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| Correct as at 4 April 2019. |
| 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 2019 Varsity Cup:

#### Round one

* Bye/s: UFS Shimlas

#### Round two

* Bye/s: NWU Pukke

#### Round three

* Bye/s: UCT Ikey Tigers

#### Round four

* Bye/s: UWC

#### Round five

* Bye/s: CUT Ixias

#### Round six

* Bye/s: Wits

#### Round seven

* Bye/s: Maties

#### Round eight

* Bye/s: UJ

#### Round nine

* Bye/s: UP Tuks

## Play-offs

| Semi-final | Semi-final | Final | Final |
| 8 April | 8 April |
| UP Tuks | 24 |
| UP Tuks | 24 | 15 April | 15 April |
| NWU Pukke | 18 | 15 April | 15 April |
| NWU Pukke | 18 | UP Tuks | 12 |
| 8 April | 8 April | | UP Tuks | 12 |
| 8 April | 8 April | Maties | 34 |
| Maties | 47 | Maties | 34 |
| UFS Shimlas | 5 | | |

### Final
## North v South match

After the season, a further match was played between a selection of players from the northern universities — CUT Ixias, NWU Pukke, UJ, UP Tuks and Wits — and a selection of players from the southern universities — Maties, UCT Ikey Tigers, UFS Shimlas and UWC: