Rhyno Smith's rugby journey, which began in the FNB Varsity Cup, has been a remarkable rise from the university ranks to playing professionally in Europe. Born in Paarl, Western Cape, Smith’s talent quickly caught the eye when he joined FNB NWU for the 2014 FNB Varsity Cup. Although he started only two games that season, his clutch performance in the semi-final, where he kicked a last-minute penalty to secure a 19–18 win over FNB Madibaz, marked his arrival on the national scene. Reflecting on that pivotal moment, Smith says, “I remember the pressure of that penalty. It was a turning point in my career and helped me gain confidence. The Varsity Cup gave me that platform to prove myself, even when I wasn’t a starter.” In 2015, Smith’s role at FNB NWU grew significantly, and he firmly established himself as one of the top players in the competition. Starting all nine matches, he finished the season as the top scorer with 101 points, including a try that was later nominated as the try of the season. Despite the Eagles falling short in the final, Smith’s stellar performances earned him a spot in the FNB Varsity Cup Dream Team and the FNB Player That Rocks award. “Playing in the Varsity Cup was a huge step for me,” Smith admits. “It showcased my versatility and helped me mature as a player, both mentally and physically.” Smith’s impressive performances led to stints with the Free State Cheetahs, the Sharks, and the South African Sevens team in 2018. In 2021, he made the move to Italian club Benetton Treviso, where he has since played over 50 games in the United Rugby Championship. From his humble beginnings in the FNB Varsity Cup to his international success, Rhyno Smith’s story is a testament to the power of the competition in shaping the future of South African rugby.   Fixtures:  HERE   Tickets:  HERE By: Adnaan Mohamed.

Defending champions, FNB UFS Shimlas, have shifted their mindset to knockout rugby ahead of their crucial final-round game against the FNB UP-Tuks in the capital city on Monday. The equation is simple for the team from Bloemfontein—win with a bonus point or go home. That’s why they are treating this game as a quarter final. The Shimlas need to earn five points to advance to the semi-finals, or the North-West University Eagles could snatch the last playoff spot. Their 40-26 defeat to the FNB UCT Ikeys in Cape Town on Monday at the Green Mile was certainly a setback, but they can take confidence from securing a crucial bonus point. Coach André Tredoux said that despite the danger of seeing their title defence come to an end on Monday, the team remains upbeat, confident, and determined not to surrender. “I must say, the character of the Shimla boys really stood out towards the end of that game because they had to score three tries in the last 20 minutes to secure that bonus point,” said Tredoux. “Otherwise, we would probably not have had our fate in our own hands. So, the boys are really pumped after getting that four-try bonus point down at Ikeys because now our destiny is in our own hands.” Tredoux admitted that they weren’t at their best, making too many errors and being somewhat caught off guard by the conditions. However, he emphasised that these are the controllable aspects they need to focus on. “We are the Shimlas—we obviously play a quality brand of running rugby. The boys are really excited because they know what’s at stake,” Tredoux added. “The next three weeks are championship weeks, so we’re going to give everything to make them the best possible three weeks. “Basically, we have to win with a bonus point, and then NWU can’t catch us. To keep it in our own hands, we need to win with a bonus point and score four tries. And when the Shimlas play well, we can score four tries.” Monday night’s game in Pretoria is sure to be a thriller, with two of the top sides going head-to-head.   Fixtures:  HERE   Tickets:  HERE

FNB UCT Ikeys’ path to FNB Varsity Cup glory is still very much a clear one as the final round of fixtures roll around.  The men from Cape Town currently sit in third place on the standings and still harbor hopes of a home semi-final, although their destiny on that front doesn’t lie in their own hands. The Ikey Tigers travel to eighth placed FNB UJ in the early kick off and have the chance to reach a third successive semi-final, should they leave Joburg with maximum points. One man who’ll be key to their cause is electric scrumhalf, Asad Moos. The 21-year-old Social Sciences student has been in fine form this season, helping his side to a 100% record at the Green Mile. Moos represented the Junior Boks in last year’s World Rugby U20 Championship, an experience that increased his appetite to become a professional. “I learned valuable lessons not just as a player but off the field as a person as well and what it takes to play at the highest level. It was a massive privilege to play for the Junior Boks and it just gave me a taste of what professional rugby is about and made me want more of it.” The dynamic half-back admitted he “enjoys” the pressure of being expected to perform. “⁠There’s always going to be pressure to perform – I think it comes with the job but I enjoy that challenge of knowing that I’m expected to perform at a high level whenever I step onto the field,” said Moos. The belief in the UCT camp is at an all-time high that they’ll get the job done at the third time of asking. “⁠I can’t imagine losing three finals in a row, so I’d like to think third times a charm as you said but I don’t want to jinx anything. At the moment, we just looking to take it one game at a time and not looking too far ahead but I do believe we have what it takes”. Fixtures:  HERE   Tickets:  HERE By: Kieryn Thompson

BACK Round 7 HIGHLIGHTS: FNB Varsity College vs FNB WSU - 27 March 23 April 2022 VIEW FIXTURES VIEW LOGS LATEST VIDEOS VIEW ALL VIEW ALL Round 7 HIGHLIGHTS: FNB SPU vs FNB UWC - 28 March 29 Mar 2025 Round 7 HIGHLIGHTS: FNB UKZN vs FNB UFH - 27 March 29 Mar 2025 Round 6 HIGHLIGHTS: FNB Maties vs FNB Tuks - 24 March 25 Mar 2025 Varsity Cup Varsity Shield Young Guns Varsity Cup Women Tickets Teams Fan Zone News Videos Photo Gallery About © 2023 Varsity Cup. All rights reserved | Privacy Policy Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions | VC Way |

FNB Varsity Shield semi-finalists decided as Comets earn promotion to FNB Varsity Cup FNB Varsity Shield semi-finalists decided as Comets earn promotion to FNB Varsity Cup FNB Varsity Shield round 7 saw the FNB Varsity College Comets topping the log and securing their promotion into the FNB Varsity Cup with... VARSITY SHIELD 14 hours ago 7 min read Rugby that rocks 2025 VARSITY CUP VARSITY CUP VARSITY SHIELD VARSITY SHIELD YOUNG GUNS YOUNG GUNS VARSITY CUP WOMEN VARSITY CUP WOMEN LATEST NEWS READ READ FNB Varsity Shield semi-finalists decided as Comets earn promotion to FNB Varsity Cup 14 hours ago 7 min read Maties, Tuks, UJ and UFH through to FNB Varsity Cup Women semi-finals 14 hours ago 5 min read FNB Varsity Shield semi-final and relegation playoff permutations 2 days ago 3 min read 00:00 Loading Loading Loading - BUY TICKETS Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading Loading - BUY TICKETS Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading Loading - BUY TICKETS Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 15:00 Loading Live Loading Loading - - BUY TICKETS MATCH CENTRE Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg UPCOMING FIXTURES VIEW ALL VIEW ALL Coming soon RESULTS VIEW ALL VIEW ALL 00:00 Loading Loading - - Loading FIXTURES Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading - - Loading FIXTURES Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading - - Loading FIXTURES Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading - - Loading FIXTURES Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg Pos Team PL W D L PD BP PTS - Loading 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - Loading 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - Loading 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - Loading 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 LOGS VIEW ALL VIEW ALL RESULTS VIEW ALL 00:00 Loading Loading - - Loading FIXTURES Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading - - Loading FIXTURES Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading - - Loading FIXTURES Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading - - Loading FIXTURES Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg Coming soon UPCOMING FIXTURES VIEW ALL VIEW ALL 15:00 Loading Live Loading Loading - - BUY TICKETS MATCH CENTRE Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading Loading - BUY TICKETS Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading Loading - BUY TICKETS Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading Loading - BUY TICKETS Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading Loading - BUY TICKETS Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg - Loading 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 - Loading 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 - Loading 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 - Loading 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 Pos Team PL W D L PD BP PTS LOGS VIEW ALL VIEW ALL UPCOMING FIXTURES VIEW ALL VIEW ALL 15:00 Loading Live Loading Loading - - BUY TICKETS MATCH CENTRE Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading Loading - BUY TICKETS Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading Loading - BUY TICKETS Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading Loading - BUY TICKETS Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading Loading - BUY TICKETS Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg Coming soon RESULTS VIEW ALL VIEW ALL 00:00 Loading Loading - - Loading FIXTURES Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading - - Loading FIXTURES Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading - - Loading FIXTURES Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading - - Loading FIXTURES Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg LOGS VIEW ALL VIEW ALL Pos Team PL W D L PD BP PTS - Loading 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 - Loading 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 - Loading 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 - Loading 25 25 25 25 25 25 25 RESULTS VIEW ALL VIEW ALL 00:00 Loading Loading - - Loading FIXTURES Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading - - Loading FIXTURES Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading - - Loading FIXTURES Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading - - Loading FIXTURES Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg Coming soon UPCOMING FIXTURES VIEW ALL VIEW ALL 15:00 Loading Live Loading Loading - - BUY TICKETS MATCH CENTRE Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading Loading - BUY TICKETS Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading Loading - BUY TICKETS Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading Loading - BUY TICKETS Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg 00:00 Loading Loading Loading - BUY TICKETS Watch on Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg LOGS VIEW ALL VIEW ALL - Loading 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - Loading 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - Loading 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - Loading 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pos Team PL W D L PD BP PTS LATEST VIDEOS READ VIEW ALL Round 7 HIGHLIGHTS: FNB SPU vs FNB UWC - 28 March 29 Mar 2025 Round 7 HIGHLIGHTS: FNB Varsity College vs FNB WSU - 27 March 29 Mar 2025 Round 7 HIGHLIGHTS: FNB UKZN vs FNB UFH - 27 March 29 Mar 2025 FAN ZONE READ VIEW ALL FNB UWC ShowUs campaign for 2025 tackles blood cancer CSI 07 Mar 2025 READ NEXT LEVEL FANS: Spot the Varsity Cup Suzuki Jimny Supplied by Hertz South Africa and Stand a Chance to Win! 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FNB Varsity Shield semi-finalists decided as Comets earn promotion to FNB Varsity Cup 14 hours ago 7 min read Maties, Tuks, UJ and UFH through to FNB Varsity Cup Women semi-finals 14 hours ago 5 min read FNB Varsity Shield semi-final and relegation playoff permutations 2 days ago 3 min read LATEST NEWS VIEW ALL VIEW ALL Round 7 HIGHLIGHTS: FNB SPU vs FNB UWC - 28 March 29 Mar 2025 Round 7 HIGHLIGHTS: FNB Varsity College vs FNB WSU - 27 March 29 Mar 2025 Round 7 HIGHLIGHTS: FNB UKZN vs FNB UFH - 27 March 29 Mar 2025 LATEST VIDEOS VIEW ALL VIEW ALL ... ... ... ... ... .. Loading... We're stretching and warming up our servers. BACK Varsity Cup Varsity Shield Young Guns Varsity Cup Women Tickets Teams Fan Zone News Videos Photo Gallery About © 2023 Varsity Cup. All rights reserved | Privacy Policy Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions | VC Way |