The African Leopards are an African rugby union representative team, organised by the Confederation of African Rugby (CAR). The side will play an important role in promoting rugby in Africa. The Leopards are the first ever Pan-African representative rugby union team.
43-614: The concept came about in 2005, and the team played their first ever match against the South African Students on July 23 at Ellis Park as a curtain raiser to the second Mandela Challenge Plate match between the Springboks and Australia . The team for the inaugural match was represented by Botswana, Cameroon, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia. Zimbabwe and Côte d'Ivoire were not included as they were playing
86-704: A 2007 World Cup qualifying match. The students ran out to a 12 to nil lead after five minutes, the Leopards lost the match but clawed their way back to reach a 15 to 30 final score. In their first overseas tour they beat the British Army Senior XV 20 to 10 at Aldershot on 23 November 2006. The match was part of the Army Rugby Union 's (1906–2006) centenary celebrations. Scorers: For South African Students : Tries: Spies, Matsaung, Olivier, Booysen Cons: Gallinetti 2 Pens: Gallinetti 2 For
129-477: A "Player That Rocks" each week, who wears pink shorts in his next game. Proceeds from the "Player That Rocks" initiative, along with other fund-raisers, go to a charity nominated by each university that fights domestic violence in their local area. The following sides have participated in Varsity Rugby since the competition's inception in 2008: The Varsity Cup is the premier Varsity Rugby competition and
172-516: A boycott of the Varsity Cup. This is due to the exclusion of formerly black universities, and the low representation of black players. Varsity Cup universities has faced accusations of professionalism, and breaking eligibility rules. The punishments handed to guilty teams have also been seen as lenient. The practice of charging students for tickets, as well as the prices set, have been a point of contention. This led to an SMS campaign against
215-896: A friendly match. Squad: Jacques Leitao, Cleopas Makotose (Zimbabwe), Nyondo George Armitage (Zambia),Joudoul Youssef, Boutataty Abdellatif, Abachri Abdelkafi, Dermouni Mohammed (Morocco), Jonathan Charles Francke, Wigan Marvin Pekeur, Steph Roberts (South Africa), Guerraoui Ali (Algeria), Derrick Wamalwa, Dan Weku (Kenya), Robert Sseguya, Allan Musoke (Uganda), Sargos Steeve, Koita Magname, Magassa Moussa (Senegal), Bobou Edgar, Meite Bakary (Côte d'Ivoire), Souguir Mouhamed Yosri (Tunisia) and Tchougong Arnold (Cameroon). Officials: Said Zniber (Team Manager, Morocco), Muhammed Sahraoui (Coach, Tunisia), Abdelaziz Bougja (CAR President Chief De Mission) and Paul Sigombe (CAR Vice President, Coordinator) South African Universities rugby union team The South Africa Universities rugby union team – also called
258-417: A round robin stage, during which all teams play each other twice, once at home and once away. Teams are awarded four points for a win and two points for a draw. Teams may also be awarded bonus points for either scoring four tries in a game, or for losing a match by a margin of seven points or less. Depending on where the move starts, a team can be awarded nine points for scoring a try. If the move starts within
301-545: A row. Four other sides – NWU Eagles (NWU Pukke), UCT Ikey Tigers , UFS Shimlas and UP Tuks – have also won the tournament subsequently. Those five sides, along with UJ , participated in the Varsity Cup in each season since its conception, while CUT Ixias , NMU Madibaz , TUT Vikings , UWC and Wits participated in the Varsity Cup on occasion, but also played in the second-tier Varsity Shield competition in certain seasons. CPUT , Rhodes , UFH Blues , UKZN Impi and WSU All Blacks have never been able to win promotion to
344-539: A second tier was added below the Varsity Cup tournament, called the Varsity Shield, which featured the rugby teams of a further five universities. CUT Ixias , UFH Blues , UKZN Impi , UWC and Wits were the expansion teams that were added to the Varsity Shield for its first season. In 2012 , an Under-20 competition was also added, called the Young Guns. Each season, the same eight teams that took part in
387-461: A win and two points for a draw. Teams may also be awarded bonus points for either scoring four tries in a game, or for losing a match by a margin of seven points or less. Depending on where the move starts, a team can be awarded nine points for scoring a try. If the move starts within the side's half, that leads to a try being scored without losing possession along the way, an additional two bonus points are awarded, earning them seven points for scoring
430-497: Is University of the Free State koshuis Vishuis, who won the competition on four occasions. The University of the Free State produced the winning koshuis for six competitions, with Huis Armentum, Dagbreek (SU), Heimat also winning the competition. Teams are included or excluded from the competition based on the university's first team's performance in the Varsity Cup competition. The eight teams are divided into two pools during
473-426: Is automatically relegated to the Varsity Shield and replaced by the champions of the Varsity Shield. In addition, the seventh-placed team will take part in a promotion/relegation play-off against the Varsity Shield runner-up. At the end of the 2016 competition, following a decision to expand the competition to nine teams, the bottom team played in the relegation play-off instead. The following teams have participated in
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#1732801370646516-461: Is contested on an annual basis between the nine foremost university rugby union teams in South Africa. The competition – known as the "FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International" for sponsorship reasons – was first held in 2008 . It was won by Maties in the first three seasons. Between 2011 and 2014 , UCT Ikey Tigers and UP Tuks both won the competition on two occasions, while
559-496: Is the collective name for four South African rugby union competitions involving the top rugby playing universities in the country. It was launched in 2008, with eight teams participating in the Varsity Cup competition and each university's internal champions competing in the Koshuis Rugby Championships (now known as Res Rugby). In 2011, a second tier competition called the Varsity Shield was added, increasing
602-482: The 2013 season , Varsity Cup teams were required to have 18 full-time students in their 23-man squads. In addition, students needed to have passed at least 30% of their previous year's courses, and all players, even non-students, must have finished high school. From the 2014 season , Varsity Cup teams were required to have 20 full-time students in their 23-man squads and an entire squad consisting of full-time students were to be fielded from 2015 onwards. A quota system
645-402: The 2015 Varsity Shield was won by UKZN Impi for the first time. Those three teams, along with UFH Blues and UWC were the founding members of the competition in 2011. UFH Blues, UKZN Impi and UWC took part in every season of the competition to date, while TUT Vikings played in the Varsity Shield competition since their relegation from the Varsity Cup in 2012. The tournament starts with
688-418: The "FNB Varsity Shield presented by Steinhoff International" for sponsorship reasons – was first held in 2011 . The most successful team in the competition to date is CUT Ixias , who won the inaugural competition, and also in 2013 and 2014 . Wits won the competition in 2012 before becoming the first team to earn promotion to the Varsity Cup competition for 2013. CUT Ixias also won promotion in 2014, while
731-499: The "Steinhoff Koshuis Rugby Championships". In 2018, Steinhoff withdrew as a sponsor, with FNB retaining the sponsorship rights. The Varsity Rugby competitions implemented rules to help ensure that the majority of the players are bona fide students of the relevant universities. In the 2012 season , Varsity Cup and Varsity Shield sides were required to have 16 full-time students in their 23-man squads. The Young Guns and Res Rugby competitions were restricted to full-time students only. In
774-1707: The African Leopards: Tries: Lloyd, Duvenhage Con: Sargos Pen: Sargos SA Students: 15 Michael Gallinetti (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University), 14 Pierre Spies (Tukkies), 13 Lafras Uys (Tukkies), 12 Thabang Molefe (TUT), 11 Mpho Matsaung (TUT), 10 Naas Olivier (Pukke), 9 Mthunzi Mashalaba (University of the Western Cape), 8 Nelis Nel (Pukke), 7 Craig Kleu (UCT), 6 Frikkie Maartens (Johannesburg), 5 Gerhard Mostert (Pukke), 4 Bosman Grobler (Tukkies), 3 Nico de Villiers (Maties), 2 Louwtjie Louw (Shimlas), 1 Kalafo Tlaitane (Tukkies). Replacements: 16 Henoe Stoffberg (Maties), 17 Brendan Booysen (CPUT), 18 Michael Killian (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University), 19 Damien Cloete (CPUT), 20 Henry Grimes (TUT), 21 Tembelani Mayosi (UCT), 22 Pellow van der Westhuizen (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University). African Leopards: 15 Steeve Sargos (Senegal), 14 Allan Musoke (Uganda), 13 Hicham Housni (Morocco), 12 Hendrik Meyer (Namibia), 11 Hary Nirina Jacquot (Madagascar), 10 Morné Steyn (SA), 9 Ismaeel Dolley (SA), 8 Abdel Boutati (Morocco), 7 Jean-Emmanuel Bahoken (Cameroon), 6 Jan Hendrik Duvenhage (Namibia), 5 Yogan Correa (Senegal), 4 John Lloyd (Tanzania), 3 Arnauld Tchoungong Kamga (Cameroon), 2 Jalil Narjissi (captain) (Morocco), 1 Heinke van der Merwe (SA). Replacements: 16 Jeremy Desai (SA), 17 Harry Vermaas (SA), 18 Cliff Milton (SA), 19 Neorgeyundo Armitage (Zambia), 20 Ryan de la Harpe (Namibia), 21 Innocent Simiyu (Kenya), 22 Kais Aissa (Tunisia). Referee: Deon van Blommestein (Western Province) Tries were scored for
817-485: The Koshuis Rugby Championship from 2008 to 2017 — is a competition that forms part of Varsity Rugby and is contested on an annual basis between the winning university residence (koshuis) teams of the nine foremost university rugby union teams in South Africa. The competition was first held in 2008 , the same year the first Varsity Cup was also held. The most successful team in the competition to date
860-1869: The Leopards by the Captain, the lock from Tanzania, John Lloyd and by the scrumhalf from Morocco, Jawad. The flyhalf from Namibia Emile Wessels went on to convert two conversions and scored a further two penalties. Malcolm Roberts scored the army's sole try which was converted by Mark Honeybun. The score of this match is also listed as 20-12. Perhaps the Army scored two tries and converted one of them? Teams: British Army Senior XV : 15 Sgt Malcolm Roberts (captain), 14 Spr Ben Suru, 13 Spr Peceli Nacamavuto, 12 Cpl Andrew Parkinson, 11 LCpl Eugene Viljoen, 10 LCpl James Balfrey, 9 LCpl Alipate Vakasawaqa, 8 Hldr Isoa Damudamu, 7 LCpl Maccu Koroiyadi, 6 Pte Joe Kava, 5 Pte Ledua Jope, 4 Cpl Benjamin Hughes, 3 LCpl Melvin Lewis, 2 Cpl Jason Kemble, 1 Sig Ryan Grant. Replacements: 16 Ben Hankinson, 17 Cpl John Beart, 18 Lt Mark Lee, 19 LBdr Gareth Gareth Libbey, 20 Capt Adrian Twyning, 21 Lt Mark Honeybun, 22 Slade-Jones Coach: WO2 Andy Sanger African Leopards : Steeve Sargos (Senegal), Thierry Park (Mauritius), John Musoke (Uganda), Allan Musoke (Uganda), JM Meyer (Namibia), Bakary Meite (Ivory Coast), John Lloyd - Captain (Tanzania), Arnauld Kamga (Cameroon), Jawad Ezyar (Morocco, Gareth Gilbert (Botswana), Shingai Chiwanga (Zimbabwe), Jacques Burger (Namibia), Edgar Babou (Ivory Coast), Harif Amid (Morocco), Kaiss Aissa (Tunisia), Innocent Simiyu (Kenya), Yousri Souguir (Tunisia), Kalafo Tlialane (South Africa), Dan Weku (Kenya), Emile Wessels (Namibia) Coaches: Brendan Venter (South Africa), Claude Saurel (France) Wednesday 10 October 2007, Metz Saint Symphorien Stadium The African Leopards won 17-12 in
903-614: The South African Students rugby union team – is a South African representative rugby union team that is usually named on an annual basis and that would participate in first class matches on an intermittent basis. Since the launch and subsequent growth in popularity of the Varsity Cup competition in 2008 , the South African Universities rugby union team effectively became a team selected from
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#1732801370646946-566: The Varsity Cup could enter their youth teams in this Young Guns competition. The name "Varsity Rugby" was also coined in 2012 to describe the four competitions collectively. From the inception of the tournament in 2008 until 2017, the title sponsors of the tournaments were First National Bank and Steinhoff International . For this reason, the competitions were officially known as the "FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International", "FNB Varsity Shield presented by Steinhoff International", "FNB Young Guns presented by Steinhoff International" and
989-404: The Varsity Cup, spending all their time in the Varsity Shield tournament. Currently the only team to have won the Varsity Cup and have been demoted to the Varsity Shield are UP Tuks, following a winless 2023 Varsity Cup campaign. The Varsity Cup tournament was founded in 2008 , with former Springbok World Cup winning captain, Francois Piennaar playing a key role in the establishment. It featured
1032-616: The Varsity Cup: The Varsity Cup tournament was inaugural competition in 2023 , Maties crowned first-ever Varsity Cup Women’s champions. The following teams have participated in the Varsity Shield: The Varsity Shield is the second-tier Varsity Rugby competition and is contested on an annual basis between the five next-best university rugby union teams in South Africa after the eight Varsity Cup teams. The competition – known as
1075-417: The Varsity Shield and Varsity Cup competitions was also introduced since the second tier was added to the competition. In 2011, the Varsity Shield champions played in a play-off match against the bottom Varsity Cup side. In 2012, promotion/relegation was changed to a bi-annual process occurring in even-numbered years. The champions of the Varsity Shield is automatically promoted to the Varsity Cup and replaced by
1118-610: The Varsity Shield for the first time in 2017. The following teams have participated in the Varsity Shield: The Varsity Rugby Young Guns competition is a youth competition that forms part of Varsity Rugby and is contested on an annual basis between the Under-20 teams of the eight foremost university rugby union teams in South Africa. The competition – known as the "FNB Young Guns presented by Steinhoff International" for sponsorship reasons –
1161-549: The best Varsity Cup players; in 2015, the team was called the Varsity Cup Dream Team. The most recent squad was named after the 2015 Varsity Cup ; this side would play against South Africa Under-20 in Stellenbosch : Props Hookers Locks Loose forwards Scrum-halves Fly-halves Centres Wingers Fullbacks Head coach Varsity Cup Varsity Cup
1204-485: The bottom team from the Varsity Cup. In addition, the Varsity Shield runner-up will take part in a promotion/relegation play-off against the seventh-placed team in the Varsity Cup. Due to an expansion of Varsity Rugby for 2017, the winner of the 2016 Varsity Shield was automatically promoted, while the runner-up played in a promotion play-off against the bottom team in the Varsity Cup. Three additional universities – CPUT , Rhodes University and WSU All Blacks – joined
1247-448: The final, played at the venue of the higher-placed team. Since the introduction of the Varsity Shield tournament in 2011, a promotion/relegation system between the Varsity Cup and Varsity Shield competitions was also introduced. In 2011, the bottom Varsity Cup side played in a play-off match against the Varsity Shield champions. In 2012, promotion/relegation was changed to a bi-annual process occurring in even-numbered years. The bottom team
1290-401: The group stage. In the first seven editions of the competition, teams played the other teams in their pool once, either at home or away, with the top two teams in each pool progressing to the semi-final. In 2015 , this was slightly modified so that teams played the teams in the other pool once, either at home or away. This meant each team played in one more match during the pool stage, but led to
1333-401: The group stage. In the first three editions of the competition, teams played the other teams in their pool once, either at home or away, with the top two teams in each pool progressing to the semi-final. In 2015 , this was slightly modified so that teams played the teams in the other pool once, either at home or away. This meant each team played in one more match during the pool stage, but led to
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1376-412: The number of participating universities to thirteen. A Young Guns tournament for the Under-20 side of the Varsity Cup teams was launched in 2012. A further expansion for the 2017 season saw three additional universities added to the Varsity Shield, totaling sixteen teams. The Varsity Cup was dominated by Maties during the competition's formative years, with the team winning the first three tournaments in
1419-535: The only other winner was UFS Shimlas , who won it in 2015 . Those four teams, along with NMMU Madibaz , NWU Eagles , TUT Vikings and UJ , were the founding members of the competition in 2015. All eight those teams took part in every season of the competition, with the exception of the TUT Vikings who were relegated to the Varsity Shield competition at the end of the 2012 competition . Their place
1462-441: The rugby teams of eight universities, with Maties , NMU Madibaz , NWU Pukke , TUT Vikings , UCT Ikey Tigers , UFS Shimlas , UJ and UP Tuks being the founding members of the competition. At the same time, the Koshuis Rugby Championships (now known as Res Rugby) was also launched; this competition featured the university residence (koshuis) teams that won the internal league for each of the Varsity Cup universities. In 2011 ,
1505-427: The scoring team's own half, it receives two extra points. The competition was one of the first to adopt 23-man squads to include two props, which reduced the number of uncontested scrums in matches. They also experimented with having two referees officiating in matches and a white card review system, whereby team captains can refer certain incidents to the television match official . In addition, each school nominates
1548-403: The semi-finals being scrapped and the top two teams advancing directly to the final. Teams are awarded four points for a win and two points for a draw. Teams may also be awarded bonus points for either scoring four tries in a game, or for losing a match by a margin of seven points or less. The following teams have participated in the Young Guns competition: The Res Rugby competition — known as
1591-496: The semi-finals being scrapped and the top two teams advancing directly to the final. Teams are awarded four points for a win and two points for a draw. Teams may also be awarded bonus points for either scoring four tries in a game, or for losing a match by a margin of seven points or less. The following teams have participated in the play-off stages of the Res Rugby competition: The Rugby Transformation Coalition has called for
1634-431: The side's half, that leads to a try being scored without losing possession along the way, an additional two bonus points are awarded, earning them seven points for scoring the try. If the conversion is successful, the try will be worth nine points. At the end of the round robin stage, the top two teams progress to the Varsity Shield final, played at the venue of the higher-placed team. A promotion/relegation system between
1677-420: The try. If the conversion is successful, the try will be worth nine points. At the end of the round robin stage, the top four teams progress to the semi-finals of the play-off stage. In the semi-finals, the team that finishes first has home advantage against the team that finishes fourth, while the team that finishes second has home advantage against the team that finishes third. The semi-final winners progress to
1720-405: Was adopted whereby conversions would count three points instead of the traditional two, while penalties and drop goals would count two points instead of the usual three. In 2016, a bonus points system was introduced whereby teams could get two of four bonus points for tries, based on where the try-scoring move originated on the field of play. 2017 saw this rule simplified: if a try is originated from
1763-417: Was also introduced to aid transformation in rugby. Each team had to include a certain number of players of colour in both their matchday squads and starting line-ups (for 2018, eight players of colour had to be included in the matchday squad, with five of those in the starting line-up). Throughout its history, Varsity Rugby adopted experimental rules during the competitions. Since 2012, a points scoring system
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1806-479: Was first held in 2012 . The most successful team in the competition to date is UP Tuks Young Guns ; they won four of the first five competitions and played in the final in 2014 , where they only lost to UFS Shimlas Young Guns on a kick-off after the matched finished in a 17–all draw. Teams are included or excluded from the competition based on the university's first team's performance in the Varsity Cup competition. The eight teams are divided into two pools during
1849-508: Was taken by Wits , who took part in 2013 and 2014 before they too were relegated, and CUT Ixias , who took part since 2015 . Between 2008 and 2016, there were eight teams taking part in the competition; this was expanded to nine teams from 2017 onwards. Wits returned to the Varsity Cup for 2017, winning promotion from the 2016 Varsity Shield . The tournament starts with a round robin stage, during which all teams play each other once, either home or away. Teams are awarded four points for
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