It was an absolute try-fest in Bloemfontein as a powerful second-half surge saw the FNB NWU Eagles claim a hard-fought 59-42 victory to kick off their 2026 Varsity Cup campaign in style against FNB CUT.
While the forwards laid the platform with some serious hard graft up front, it was winger Therlow Prins who stole the headlines with a scintillating hat-trick. Every time he touched the ball, something special seemed to happen.
The first half at a packed CUT Park was frenetic, with end-to-end action keeping supporters on the edge of their seats. The visitors from Potchefstroom struck first, hooker Jordan McLoughlin rumbling over from a driving maul to open the scoring.
The Ixias hit back almost immediately. Jade Muller dotted down, and Kehan Myburgh added the extras to level matters. From there, it became a shoot-out. Prins crossed for the FNB NWU Eagles, but Winton Abrahams responded for the Bloemfontein outfit with a well-worked Point of Origin try.
Another seven-point effort, this time from Raydon Swartblooi, followed by a powerplay score from Malcolm Lamont, saw CUT surge into a commanding 31-14 lead and swing the momentum firmly in their favour.
FNB NWU Eagles, however, refused to go away. Luyolo Doyi got them back into the contest before captain Stephan Krugel crashed over during the powerplay. A Myburgh penalty ensured FNB CUT took a 34-24 advantage into the break.
The second half told a different story.
FNB NWU Eagles came out firing, with McLoughlin completing his brace to spark the comeback. The Eagles then struck twice in quick succession to edge ahead, silencing the home crowd. Emlyhn Jacobs kept FNB CUT in the fight with a crucial try, but the two-time champions began to assert their authority.
Guhan du Bois crossed as the visitors tightened their grip on proceedings, before Hanro Venter dotted down to seal an impressive win for the men from the North West.
FNB CUT may not have been able to close it out, but there were plenty of positives for the Bloemfontein side. The team that took the field on Monday night looked a far cry from the outfit that struggled in the previous two seasons of the Varsity Cup. On this showing, they will trouble more than a few teams in 2026.
Scorers:
FNB CUT: Tries: Jade Muller, Winton Abrahams, Raydon Swartbooi, Malcolm Lamont, Emlyhn Jacobs. Conversions:
FNB NWU Eagles: Tries: Jordan Mcloughlin (2), Therlow Prins (3), Luyolo Doyi, Stephan Krugel, Guhan Du Bois, Hanro Venter. Conversions:
FNB Player of the Match: Kehan Myburgh (FNB CUT)
Teams:
FNB CUT: 1 Jan Hendrik Bessenger, 2 Tokelo Ntaopane, 3 Malcolm Lamont, 4 Jean Louis Theron, 5 Durandt Van Aswegen, 6 Jordan Davids, 7 Oyama Frans, 8 Hope Seyaga, 9 Raydon Swartbooi, 10 Kehan Myburgh, 11 Kutlo Seyoko, 12 Winton Abrahams, 13 Matthys Cornelius Malan, 14 Jade Muller, 15 Devinto Vergotine. Replacements: 16 Malekela Chilli Malothane, 17 Neo Lesoetsa, 18 Vuyo Holiday, 19 Dean Sciocatti, 20 Tsebano Stemer, 21 Emlyhn Jacobs, 22 CJ Taljaard, 23 Katlego Shebu.
FNB NWU Eagles: 1 Alethwa Buthelezi, 2 Jordan Mcloughlin, 3 Jason Oosthuizen, 4 Raniel Turner, 5 Stephan Krugel, 6 Ricardo Fourie, 7 Tian Van Zyl, 8 Sean Roulston, 9 Njabulo Dladla, 10 MJ Mostert, 11 Therlow Prins, 12 Aiden De Villiers, 13 Matthew Fortuin, 14 Luyolo Doyi, 15 Luan Van Der Walt. Replacements: 16 Hanro Venter, 17 Lachibo Tchokonte-Nana, 18 Bradley Stanfliet, 19 Schalk Van Schalkwyk, 20 Guhan Du Bois, 21 Zack Serfontein, 22 Ruan Van Willing, 23 Logan Janeke.