The 2026 FNB Varsity Cup has come down to the final two, following eight rounds of amusing rugby. FNB UP-Tuks are set to lock horns with their biggest hurdle of the season in the shape of FNB NWU Eagles at the Tuks Stadium.
The clash will be a repeat of Round 5, where the Eagles came up on top, being the only side to defeat the Pretoria outfit this season. Dewey Swartbooi and company are on a hunt for a record sixth Varsity Cup title, while their counterparts are looking for their third trophy.
Tuks head coach Dewey Swartbooi has retaliated that his side will fight to the end.
“We do not want to get ahead of ourselves; it is another game, another final. Proud of the boys, they showed grit and character throughout. We had a rollercoaster of a season, but we are still looking for that perfect game. It will be good to be part of another final with Tuks.
Akha our scrumhalf got player of the match, and he came on as backup for our injured scrumhalf, Chad-Lee Valentine. We have a lot of positives with the collective of our players stepping up whenever we need them to,” said Swartbooi
The Stripe Generation coach admits to starting slow in games as something to fix ahead of the main showpiece.
“We want to make a better account of ourselves when it comes to set-pieces and our forwards. I know coach Kobus is there and taking care of things; he's probably not going to sleep this week. We need our set-piece to fire like they normally do, we got a final now, and it shows we are not a one strategy team.”
“Firstly, it is a privilege to play a home final again. We worked hard and wanted to get a home semi-final, and now we got a home final. The one team that we lost against this campaign, I know they will be up for it, but this is Tuks, this is our house, and we will come here to defend our house.