2014 Varsity Shield


The 2014 Varsity Shield was contested from 27 January to 31 March 2014. The tournament was the fourth season of the Varsity Shield, an annual second-tier inter-university rugby union competition featuring five South African universities.
The tournament was won by for the second consecutive time and third time overall; they beat 35–26 in the final played on 31 March 2015. were automatically promoted to the top-tier Varsity Cup competition for 2015, but lost their promotion play-off match against to remain in the Varsity Shield for 2015. Bottom side won their relegation play-off match against challengers to also remain in the Varsity Shield for 2015.

Rules

The Varsity Shield used a different scoring system to the regular system. Tries were worth five points as usual, but conversions were worth three points, while penalties and drop goals were only worth two points.

Competition

There were five participating universities in the 2014 Varsity Shield. These teams played each other twice over the course of the season, once at home and once away.
Teams received four points for a win and two points for a draw. Bonus points were awarded to teams that scored four or more tries in a game, as well as to teams that lost a match by seven points or less. Teams were ranked by log points, then points difference.
The top two teams qualified for the title play-offs. These teams played each other in the final, at the home venue of the higher-placed team.
The Varsity Shield winner was promoted to the 2015 Varsity Cup competition, while the bottom team in the Varsity Cup was relegated to the 2015 Varsity Shield. There was also a promotion/relegation match between the 7th-placed team in the Varsity Cup and the Varsity Shield runner-up at the end of the 2014 season.

Standings

The final league standings for the 2014 Varsity Shield were:

Fixtures

The 2014 Varsity Shield fixtures were as follows:All times are South African .

Round eight

Players

Player statistics

The following table contains points which have been scored in the 2014 Varsity Shield.

Squad lists

The teams released the following squad lists:
Forwards
  • Gerard Baard
  • Moekoa Bolofo
  • Fanie Coetzer
  • Daniel de Jager
  • Deon Gouws
  • Johann Grundlingh
  • Juan Hugo
  • Dean Kauprihanoff
  • Hanro Liebenberg
  • Vincent Maruping
  • Len Noort
  • Lyvette Shikwambana
  • Frans Sisita
  • Theuns Truter
  • Danie van der Merwe
  • Ian van Wyk
  • Jasper WieseDid not play:
  • Junior Burger
  • Henko de Jager
  • Carl Gersbach
  • Boetie Maketla
  • JJ Nel
  • Kevin Pretorius
  • Jean-Luke van Zyl
Backs
  • Heinrich Bitzi
  • Stephan Griesel
  • Marius Grobler
  • Charlie Hitchcock
  • Noël Marx
  • Alec Mhlanga
  • Johan Nel
  • Duan Pretorius
  • Kholo Ramashala
  • Mosego Toolo
  • Johan van SchalkwykDid not play:
  • Hanro Pretorius
  • Stephan Schutte
  • Clinton Toua
Coach
  • Skillie Bester
Forwards
  • Ricardo Burger
  • Isak Deetlefs
  • Hamish Herd
  • Claude Johannes
  • Adriaan Joubert
  • Ewald Maré
  • Juan Maritz
  • Armand Marshall
  • Pieter Matthews
  • Mandla Mdaka
  • Barend Nordeje
  • David Pieterse
  • Werner Serfontein
  • Ryan Sim
  • Gerrit van GerweDid not play:
  • Jan Arnoldus Els
  • Wayne Short
Backs
  • Leroy Afrika
  • Curtly Brinkhuis
  • Deon Fitchet
  • Brian Guillen
  • Morné Hugo
  • Deon Michael Joubert
  • Ralphton Minnaar
  • Edwin Oliver
  • Shane Pretorius
  • Gaybrin Smith
  • Andries TruterDid not play:
  • Darrio Bezuidenhout
  • Shawn Jaards
  • Thabo Mangena
  • Thabang Mathebula
  • Paul Walters
tbcDid not play:
Coach
  • André Eloff
Forwards
  • Masixole David
  • Onke Dubase
  • Billy Dutton
  • Madoda Mbulelo Ludidi
  • Lwando Mabenge
  • Athenkosi Manentsa
  • Xola Mapapu
  • Ntyara Mkhafu
  • Thembelihle Mpapha
  • Olwethu Mputla
  • Angelo Timothy Nhlapo
  • Luzuko Nyabaza
  • Siyabulela Sijula
  • Sibusiso Sityebi
  • Sibabalwe Tshoni
  • Mzwandile YalezoDid not play:
  • Litha Labase
  • Lubabalo Elton Lento
  • Zuko Lerula
  • Lunga Innocent Nohlwati
Backs
  • Bangi Kobese
  • Lukhanyiso Komani
  • Andile Makinana
  • Lithabile Mgwadleka
  • Sibabalwe Mtsulwana
  • Saneliso Ngoma
  • Lundi Ralarala
  • Mkhululi Sonqishe
  • Garth van Rayner
  • Oliver ZonoDid not play:
  • Lungelo Kepe
  • Curtis Kleinhans
  • Lwando Makhongolo
  • Anda Nanto
  • Lutho Zatu
tbcDid not play:
  • Busiwe Fani
  • Six Maselwa
Coach
  • Elliot Fana
Forwards
Backs
  • Brandon Bailing
  • Alrich Brown
  • Duncan Campbell
  • Brendan Cope
  • Spa Dube
  • Henkie Groenewald
  • Rico Lategan
  • Nelson Makhanye
  • Shayne Makombe
  • Kurt Mavrodaris
  • Yandisa Mdolomba
  • Garath Meikle
  • Philip Molnar
  • Gavin Nyawata
  • Cameron WrightDid not play:
  • Ncgebo Masikane
  • Mondli Ntshingila
  • Ruhan Smit
  • Sandile Zulu
tbcDid not play:
  • Lindo Radebe
Coach
Forwards
  • Mogamat Adams
  • Tahriq Allan
  • Siphiwo Bakeni
  • Brandon Beukman
  • Samuel Borsah
  • Kelvin de Bruyn
  • Matthew Faught
  • Philbrey Joseph
  • José Julies
  • Timothy Louw
  • Darren Luiters
  • Pallo Manuel
  • Sebenza Maphumulo
  • Heinrich Marcus
  • Michael Mkhize
  • Njabulo Ndlovu
  • Adeeb October
  • Pat O'Brien
  • William ScottDid not play:
  • Curtis Beukes
  • Oswin Mentoor
Backs
  • Dumisani Dyonase
  • Dean Herbert
  • Keanu Langeveldt
  • Quaid Langeveldt
  • Minenhle Mthethwa
  • Freddie Muller
  • Matthew Nortjé
  • Warrick Rhoda
  • Yondela Stampu
  • Dale van Schalkwyk
  • James Verity-Amm
  • Melik Wana
  • Kenwinn Wiener
  • Rufus WitbooiDid not play:
  • Charlton Afrika
  • Daniel Bock
  • Lubabalo Faleni
  • Justin McKay
  • Cleo Voster
Coach

Honours

2014 FNB Varsity Shield Champions:
Player That Rocks:Onke Dubase,
Forward That Rocks:Lwazi Nqcungama,
Back That Rocks:Shayne Makombe,
Top Try Scorers:Shayne Makombe,
Top Points Scorer:Duan Pretorius,

Referees

The following referees officiated matches in the 2014 Varsity Shield: