The opening Round of the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International, on Monday, will feature replays of both of last year’s semi-finals.

It may be a fresh start for all 8 teams this season, but there is no denying the extra edge that will feature in the 2 games to be televised live on Supersport 1 as FNB NWU-Pukke host the FNB NMMU Madibaz in Potchefstroom and Cape rivals FNB UCT and FNB Maties meet on the Green Mile.

The other 2 matches, which both take place in Bloemfontein, will certainly not lack for passion either with FNB UFS-Shimlas taking on 2-time champions FNB UP-Tuks and the newly promoted FNB CUT Ixias making their Varsity Cup debut against FNB UJ.

Another new addition to the competition this year will be the WHITE CARD which will allow teams a decision review in televised games in addition to the 2 referee system.

NMMU coach David Maidza said that the innovation will be a good safety net if either of the 2 referees miss something important.

“I think there is merit to the WHITE CARD, the only thing is how it is going to be used.

“We as coaches have every faith in the 2 ref system and what they will call out there, so hopefully the WHITE CARD will actually not be a necessity at all,” he said.

Maidza knows his side have their work cut out first up against a NWU-Pukke outfit he expects to be one of the top sides in the competition once again this year.

“Our sole focus is on Pukke, I am sure they will be one of the leading contenders again this year and I am hoping that we go out and perform to the best of our ability and take it from there.

“The predecessors have set a foundation and we have got to carry on with that mentality that we want to keep on progressing,” he said.

There is always a lot at stake when Maties play UCT, but having lost to the Ikeys twice in the Varsity Cup last year there is that much more incentive for the Stellenbosch students to take the defending champions down in front of their home crowd.

Maties coach Chris Rossouw admitted that his side cannot wait to get out there, but he remains cautious about the potential impact of the notoriously windy conditions on the Green Mile.

“That will obviously be in the back of the minds, although they won’t be out to take revenge we would obviously like to settle one.

“We are looking forward to it and we are obviously very excited about it and we just hope that it will be a nice day for running rugby,” he said.

In the Varsity Shield FNB Wits make their return to the competition after 2 years in the Varsity Cup, and they face a tricky outing in Alice where the FNB Fort Hare Blues and their legion of fans await them.

After beating FNB UWC in Bellville last week, the FNB UKZN Impi host the FNB TUT Vikings who will also be high on confidence after winning at home last week.

All the teams and match details:

FNB NWU-Pukke vs FNB NMMU:
(Fanie du Toit Stadium, Potchefstroom – Kick-off: 16:45 SA Time – televised live on Supersport 1)

FNB NWU-Pukke: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Dalen Goliath, 13 Rowayne Beukman, 12 Johan Deysel, 11 Dean Stokes, 10 Johnny Welthagen, 9 Dillon Smit, 8 Jeandre Rudolph (Captain), 7 Loftus Morrison, 6 Rhyk Welgemoed, 5 Daniel Jordaan, 4 Ruan Venter, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Jacques Vermaak, 1 Johan Smith
Replacements: 16 Wian Fourie, 17 Mogau Mabokela, 18 Marno Redelinghuys, 19 Molotsi Bouwer, 20 Kurshwill Williams, 21 Warren Gilbert, 22 Heinrich Smith, 23 Cayle Denner.

FNB NMMU: 15 Jarryd Buys, 14 Tythan Adams, 13 Devon Lailivaux, 12 Andile Jho, 11 Yamkela Ngam, 10 Ruan Allerston, 9 Daniel Acker, 8 Andisa Ntsila, 7 Wynand Grassmann, 6 Cyril- John Velleman, 5 Tyler Paul, 4 Robert Louw, 3 Steven Robbeson, 2 Dane Van Der Westhuyzen, 1 Arno Ebersohn
Replacements: 16 Warrick Venter, 17 Brenden Olivier,18 Rudolph Odendaal, 19 Ivan Du Preez, 20 Ivan Ludick, 21 Steven Hansel, 22 Brain Skosana, 23 Marzuk Maarman.

Referees: Quinton Immelman, Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant referees: Local
TMO: Willie Vos

FNB UFS-Shimlas vs FNB UP-Tuks:

(Shimla Park, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 18:30 SA Time)

FNB UFS-Shimlas: 15 AJ Coertzen, 14 Vuyani Maqina, 13 Nico Lee, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Maphutha Dolo, 10 Pieter-Steyn De Wet, 9 Mthokozisi Mkhabela, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Gerhard Olivier, 5 Niel Claassen, 4 Nicolaas Immelman, 3 Chase Morison, 2 Elandre Huggett, 1 Hennie-Schalk Theron
Replacements: 16 Jacques Du Toit, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Boela Venter, 19 Daniel Maartens, 20 Nhlanhla Hlongwane, 21 Niel Marais, 22 JP Coetzee, 23 Conraad Van Vuuren.

FNB UP-Tuks: 15 Riaan Britz, 14 Duncan Matthews, 13 Daniel Kriel, 12 Ryan Nell, 11 Jermaine Kleinsmith, 10 Joshua Stander, 9 André Warner, 8 Clyde Davids, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Wiaan Liebenberg (captain), 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Irné Herbst, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Juan Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Jan Enslin, 17 Nqobisiswe Mxoli, 18 Dennis Visser, 19 Ruan Steenkamp, 20 Emile Temperman, 21 Dewald Human, 22 John Jackson, 23 Andrew Beerwinkel.

Referees: Lesego Legoete, Jaco Pretorius
Assistant Referees: Local

FNB CUT vs FNB UJ:

(CUT Rugby Stadium, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 18:30 SA Time)

FNB CUT: 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Luke Cyster, 13 Charles Hitchcock, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Mosego Toolo, 10 Naude Van Biljon, 9 Christiaan Erasmus, 8 Jean Pretorius, 7 Dean Kouprihanoff, 6 Frans Sisita, 5 Rayno Nel, 4 Daneel Botes, 3 Gerard Baard, 2 Anrich Bitzi, 1 Len Noort
Replacements: 16 Theuns Truter, 17 Ian Smith, 18 Fanie Coetzer, 19 Victor Maruping, 20 Marius Grobler, 21 Jean-Claude Fourie, 22 Duan Pretorius, 23 Boetie Makethlo.

FNB UJ: 15 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 14 Bradley Moolman, 13 Robert De Bruyn, 12 Adriaan Vermeulen, 11 Andries Oosthuizen, 10 James Campbell, 9 Hilton Mudariki, 8 Dylan Peterson, 7 Kyle Van Dalen, 6 Kobus Porter (captain), 5 David Antonites, 4 Werner Lourens, 3 Nico Du Plessis, 2 Siphatho Qinisile, 1 Gareth Milasinovich
Replacements: 16 Jannes Snyman, 17 Brandon Landsberg, 18 Ettienne Oosthuizen, 19 Wiaan Conradie, 20 Chuma Faas, 21 Jaco Fourie, 22 Ronald Brown, 23 Raeez Salie.

Referees: Lourens van der Merwe, Jaco Kotze
Assistant Referees: Local

FNB UCT vs FNB Maties:

(UCT Rugby Fields, Cape Town – Kick-off: 19:00 SA Time – live on Supersport 1)

FNB UCT: 15 Khanyo Ngcukana, 14 Richard Stewart, 13 Dylan Sage, 12 Guy Schwikkard, 11 Lihleli Xoli, 10 Warren Seals, 9 James Alexander, 8 Guy Alexander, 7 Michael Botha (Captain), 6 Jason Klaasen, 5 James Kilroe, 4 Mark Prior, 3 Digby Webb, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Joel Carew
Replacements: 16 Michael Kennedy, 17 Robin Murray, 18 Jade Kriel, 19 Tinotenda Zakeyo, 20 Ryan Dugmore, 21 Nicholas Holton, 22 Nathan Nel, 23 Kyle Whyte.

FNB Maties: 15 Mike Muller, 14 Craig Barry, 13 Christoff van Tonder, 12 Koos Loubser, 11 JP Lewis, 10 Ernst Stapelberg, 9 Jean Nel, 8 Kobus van Dyk, 7 Lungelo Chonco, 6 Beyers de Villiers, 5 Wilhelm van der Sluys (Captain), 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 AJ de Klerk, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Niel Oelofse
Replacements: 16 Wesley Adonis, 18 Grant Prior, 19 Justin Benn, 20 Bjorn Bernardo, 21 Brandon Thomson, 22 Kyle Leibrandt, 23 John Hubert Meyer.

Referees: Francois Pretorius, Rodney Boneparte
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Shaun Veldsman

Varsity Shield fixtures:

FNB UKZN vs FNB TUT:

(Peter Booysen Park, Pietermaritzburg – Kick-off: 19:00 SA Time)

FNB Fort Hare vs FNB Wits:

(Davidson Rugby Stadium – Kick-off: 19:00 SA Time)