2026 Varsity Cup
| 2026 Varsity Cup | |
|---|---|
| Countries | South Africa |
| Date | 16 February – 13 April 2026 |
| Top point scorer | Alex Vermeulen (52) Correct as of 10 March 2026 |
| Top try scorer | Jack Benade (7) Correct as of 10 March 2026 |
| Official website | |
| varsitycup | |
The 2026 Varsity Cup is the 19th season of the Varsity Cup, the premier competition in the annual Varsity Rugby series in South Africa for men's rugby union. The tournament takes places between eight university teams and played between 16 February and 13 April 2026.
This competition forms part of the broader Varsity Rugby programme administered by Varsity Sport, which aims to promote university rugby and provide a pathway for emerging talent into professional rugby structures. Matches were broadcast nationally on SuperSport.
The UCT Ikey Tigers enter the 2026 season as the current holders of the Varsity Cup Trophy after beating Maties last year. The 2026 edition is staged under the campaign theme "Who’s NXT?", highlighting Varsity Cup’s role as a launchpad for future professional and international players and introducing the new Tap-or-Kick post-try power play law to further encourage attacking rugby. Matches were broadcast nationally on SuperSport.