Rallying behind Ikey Tigers in Varsity Cup final

Dear colleagues and students

The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) senior rugby team, Ikey Tigers, and the under-20 side, the Young Guns (YG), have achieved a commendable historic feat: advancing to the FNB Varsity Cup 2025 finals.

This is an unprecedented achievement – for the first time ever in UCT’s history, both teams have reached the finals in the same year. Congratulations to the teams for this significant milestone for UCT rugby and a proud moment for the entire university community.

We call upon the entire university community to rally behind the team at these historic matches, which will take place on Monday, 14 April 2025 at Stellenbosch University’s Danie Craven Stadium.

Match details:

• FNB Varsity Cup Young Guns Final: FNB UCT YG vs FNB Wits YG, 16:00
• FNB Varsity Cup Final: FNB UCT Ikey Tigers vs FNB Maties, 19:00

Unfortunately, tickets for the matches were sold out within three days of going on sale, illustrating the magnitude of the two games, which include the traditional and epic Western Cape Derby. We hope most of you managed to grab the sought-after tickets when they went on sale early last week.

In ensuring that we paint a big section of the stadium blue as we flock to Stellenbosch in large numbers, the university has organised free transport. Students and staff who have tickets may access free buses to Stellenbosch on Monday, 14 April 2025. Buses will depart from the Tugwell Stop on lower campus between 14:00 and 16:00. Buses will return to lower campus after the senior team final.

We encourage all members of the university community to proudly wear their UCT supporters’ T-shirts, any blue UCT merchandise, or any blue top to show their support. A limited number of UCT supporters’ T-shirts, flags and other merchandise will be available at the bus departure point for those travelling with the group.

Upon arrival at the Danie Craven Stadium, there will be a designated area for UCT supporters. We encourage the UCT community to sit in this area so we can cheer our team on together and make our presence felt.

We are also extremely proud to announce that several UCT players have received nominations for outstanding performances this season. These are:

• FNB Overall Player That Rocks: Ntokozo Makhaza
• FNB Back That Rocks: Ntokozo Makhaza
• FNB Forward That Rocks: Enos Ndiao, Keagan Blanckenberg

We congratulate and celebrate these players for their nominations, which reflect their superb performances during the season and are aligned with excellence as one of the university’s pillars.

When the 2025 FNB Varsity Cup season started we knew that the games would be tough.

After seven tough and challenging games, the senior team finished third on the log. We then showed our prowess in edging out the FNB Tuks 48–35 in the semifinals. We are now heading back to Danie Craven Stadium, where we were very unfortunate to lose 31–24 to FNB Maties through the very last kick of the match a few weeks ago.

The Young Guns finished second in Group B after six tough matches, before going on to edge out FNB NWU YG 47–46 in a nail-biting semifinal.

To both teams, we are very proud of what you have achieved. You have played your hearts out and left everything on every pitch you have stepped onto. As you head into these deciding final 80 minutes, all that we are asking as the university community is that you give your all. Continue to play for one another and, regardless of what happens in the final itself; you are already winners and we are proud of you. We hope that you will bring home our third FNB Varsity Cup trophy as well as the YG silverware.

To those members of the university community who have managed to purchase tickets, your presence at the games will make a huge difference in cheering on our teams and celebrating this historic achievement. We look forward to seeing you there and creating an unforgettable atmosphere at the finals.

To those who could not get hold of the tickets before they sold out, the senior team’s match will be broadcast on SuperSport so be sure to catch the action.

Best wishes to both the Ikeys senior team and the under-20s – let us end the Varsity Cup season with aplomb!

Sincerely

Professor Mosa Moshabela
Vice-Chancellor

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements