The defending champions, the FNB UFS Shimlas, are locked and loaded ahead of the 2025 FNB Varsity Cup, which will kick off on Monday when they face the University of Stellenbosch in Coetzenburg. The Shimlas will hit the road in round one of the highly popular and competitive tournament, and they will be fielding a largely new-look team compared to the one that earned them a second star in 2024.
A total of 17 players who featured in the final last season are no longer available, but they will be fielding a team with experience—and an exciting one at that.
If their warm-up match against the UJ in Vrede is anything to go by, they will stick to their DNA of attacking rugby and are sure to provide plenty of entertainment.
While the Shimlas will have a target on their backs and fancy their chances of doing well, their new captain, Nkoka Ngobe, warned against complacency.
“The word that we are avoiding is being too familiar with winning, being too familiar with the opportunity we're given to play,” said the player, who started at outside centre in the 2024 final.
“Yes, we are defending champions, but we haven't achieved anything yet. The thing that people need to understand is that we can never be—and we don't have the attitude of being—too familiar with winning, because that breeds complacency.
“We're taking it one day at a time, just like everyone else. I think no one can say that they have the upper hand this season. We take it one practice at a time, one game at a time, one week at a time, one month at a time.
“You know, as you set daily goals, in the end, the cream will rise. You know, something special is coming.”
Monday night’s eagerly anticipated encounter between Maties and the Shimlas at the Danie Craven Stadium kicks off at 19:00.
Provisional squad (subject to change):
Yaseen Arendse, Cornelius Jacobus Bezuidenhout, Wynand Johannes Botha, Aiden Christians, Hendrik Jacobus De Beer, Nqobeni Dlamini, Thomas Frederik Dreyer, Kirwin Curtley Du Preez, Kristof du Randt, Keehan Nahum Etson, Michiel Christiaan De Graaff Genis, Bradley Pierre Giddy, Rudolph Hattingh, Khanyisa Hlengwa, Ntokozo Hlophe, Vice Hofmeyr, Regan Isaks, Henry James Jonker, Hlumelo Klaas, Maynard Kleynhans, AJ Knoetze, Daniel Christiaan Kriek, Alex Lategan, Hermanus Faasen Hercules Laubscher, Stephanus Lourens Linde, Lilitha Lunqe, Kungawo Mehlomakulu, Ongeziwe Olulodwa Mobo, Loyola Uzile Mtwa, Nkoka Ngobe, Sandile Nzuza, William Conley Pieterse, Ben Pitout, Shaun Peter Ray, Janco Lawrence Scheepers, Liam Shamburg, DuJean Smit, Marno Gray Stopforth, Ramón Freddie Uys, Leyton Jawdin Valentyne, Johannes Alwyn Van der Linde, Henri van Heerden, Adriaan Johannes Van Niekerk, Gunter Van Rensburg, Johannes Jacobus Venter, Alistaire Vermeulen, Renier Viljoen, Christoffel Jacobus Visser, Marnus Gerbrand Winter, Siviwe Zondani.