2016 Varsity Shield

The 2016 Varsity Shield was contested from 1 February to 18 April 2016. The tournament (also known as the FNB Varsity Shield presented by Steinhoff International for sponsorship reasons) was the sixth season of the Varsity Shield, an annual second-tier inter-university rugby union competition featuring five South African universities.

2016 Varsity Shield
Countries	South Africa
Date	1 February 2016 — 18 April 2016
Champions	Wits (2nd title)
Runners-up	UWC
Promoted	Wits
Relegated	None
Matches played	21
Tries scored	165 (average 7.9 per match)
Top point scorer	Tristan Tedder (114)
Top try scorer	Thobekani Buthelezi (9)
← 2015 2017 →

Following a disruption during the Varsity Cup Round Three match between UFS Shimlas and NMMU Madibaz^[1][2] and general unrest on various university campuses, all fixtures scheduled for 29 February were postponed to 4 April,^[3] with the semi-finals and final also postponed by a week. On 1 March, it was also announced that the round of matches scheduled for 7 March would also be postponed, with the situation at various universities being monitored to determine when the competition will resume.^[4] After a meeting by the executive management of Varsity Rugby on 9 March, it was decided that all remaining matches in the competition would be played at neutral venues and that matches should resume on 14 March.^[5]

The tournament was won by Wits for the second time; they beat UWC 39–2 in the final played on 18 April 2016. Wits was also promoted to the top-tier Varsity Cup competition for 2017.

Competition rules and information

There were five participating universities in the 2015 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 (points scored less points conceded).

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 2017 Varsity Cup competition, while the bottom team in the Varsity Cup was relegated to the 2017 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 2016 season. Three new universities will join the Varsity Shield in 2017.

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.^[6]

Teams

TUT Vikings

UKZN Impi

UFH Blues

UWC

Wits

Location of teams in the 2016 Varsity Shield

2016 Varsity Shield teams
Team name	University	Stadium
TUT Vikings	Tshwane University of Technology	TUT Stadium, Pretoria
UFH Blues	University of Fort Hare	Davidson Rugby Field, Alice
UKZN Impi	University of KwaZulu-Natal	Howard College Rugby Stadium, Durban
		Peter Booysen Sports Park, Pietermaritzburg
UWC	University of the Western Cape	UWC Sport Stadium, Cape Town
Wits	University of the Witwatersrand	Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg

Standings

The final league standings for the 2016 Varsity Shield were:^[7]

2016 Varsity Shield standings
Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
1	Wits	8	6	0	2	342	96	+246	50	12	6	1	31
2	UWC [note 1]	8	5	0	3	179	186	−7	28	25	3	0	24
3	UKZN Impi [note 2]	8	7	0	1	382	144	+238	51	19	4	0	20
4	TUT Vikings	8	1	0	7	136	355	−219	17	50	2	2	8
5	UFH Blues [note 1]	8	1	0	7	102	360	−258	14	54	1	2	5

Legend and competition rules
Legend:
	Promoted to the 2017 Varsity Cup and qualifies to the final.		P = Games played, W = Games won, D = Games drawn, L = Games lost, PF = Points for, PA = Points against, PD = Points difference, TF = Tries for, TA = Tries against, TB = Try bonus points, LB = Losing bonus points, Pts = Log points
	Runner-up; will qualify to the final.
Competition rules:
Play-offs: Wits and UWC qualified to the final, with Wits hosting UWC. Wits was automatically promoted to the 2017 Varsity Cup, while UWC qualified for a promotion play-off. Points breakdown: * 4 points for a win * 2 points for a draw * 1 bonus point for a loss by eight points or less * 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

Round-by-round

Team Progression – 2016 Varsity Shield
Team	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	Final
Wits	1 (4th)	6 (2nd)	6 (3rd)	11 (2nd)	16 (2nd)	17 (2nd)	22 (1st)	22 (3rd)	27 (2nd)	32 (1st)	Won
UWC	4 (2nd)	4 (3rd)	8 (2nd)	8 (3rd)	8 (3rd)	13 (3rd)	18 (3rd)	24 [note 1] (2nd)	24 (3rd)	24 (2nd)	Lost
UKZN Impi	4 (1st)	8 (1st)	13 (1st)	18 (1st)	18 (1st)	22 (1st)	22 (2nd)	27 (1st)	32 (1st)	20 [note 2] (3rd)	—
TUT Vikings	0 (5th)	0 (5th)	1 (5th)	2 (4th)	3 (5th)	3 (5th)	3 (5th)	3 (4th)	3 (4th)	8 (4th)	—
UFH Blues	1 (3rd)	1 (4th)	1 (4th)	1 (5th)	5 (4th)	5 (4th)	5 (4th)	3 [note 1] (5th)	3 (5th)	5 (5th)	—
The table above shows a team's progression throughout the season. For each round, their cumulative points total is shown with the overall log position in brackets.
Key:	win	draw	loss	bye

Matches

The following matches were played in the 2016 Varsity Shield:^[10]

Round one

	1 February 2016	UKZN Impi	26–18	Wits	Peter Booysen Sports Park, Pietermaritzburg
	16:45	Try: Jaywinn Juries  34' Michael Meyer  66' Tristan Blewett  78' Con: Curwin Bosch  35', 67', 79' (3/3) Pen: Curwin Bosch  20' (1/1) Drop: Curwin Bosch (0/2)	Report[11] Scoreboard[12] Video[13]	Try: Thato Marobela  11' CJ Conradie  40' Constant Beckerling  49' Con: Warren Gilbert  50' (1/3)	Referee: AJ Jacobs

	1 February 2016	UFH Blues	8–15	UWC	Davidson Rugby Field, Alice
	19:00	Try: Asiphe Fihla  80' Con: Siviwe Bisset  81' (1/1)	Report[14] Scoreboard[15] Video[16]	Try: Philbrey Joseph  27', 61' Jason Marcus  78' Con: Melik Wana (0/3)	Referee: Sindile Ngcese

Bye/s: TUT Vikings

Round two

	8 February 2016	UWC	13–24	UKZN Impi	UWC Sport Stadium, Cape Town
	18:30	Try: Jason Marcus  24' Marcus Kleinbooi  42' Con: Melik Wana  43' (1/2) Cards: Sabelo Dlamini 7' to 17' Brandon Valentyn 55' to 65'	Report[17] Scoreboard[18] Video[19]	Try: Zwela Zondi  8' Kerron van Vuuren  57' S'busiso Nkosi  72' Con: Tristan Tedder  9', 58', 73' (3/3)	Referee: Egon Seconds

	8 February 2016	Wits	53–0	TUT Vikings	Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg
	18:30	Try: Thato Marobela  10' Conor Brockschmidt  27' Constant Beckerling  32' Ruan Macdonald  46', 60' Ruan Cloete  51' penalty try  68' Con: Warren Gilbert  28', 33', 47', 52', 60' (5/6) AJ van Blerk  69' (1/1)	Report[20] Scoreboard[21] Video[22]	Cards: Lukas van Zyl 4' to 15'	Referee: Ben Crouse

Bye/s: UFH Blues

Round three

	15 February 2016	TUT Vikings	15–21	UWC	TUT Stadium, Pretoria
	18:30	Try: Claude Johannes  21' Tshepo Nyathi  70' Con: Lukas van Zyl  22' (1/2) Pen: Lukas van Zyl  32' (1/2) Drop: Lukas van Zyl (0/1) Cards: George Letshuma 60' to 71' Chestwin Gaffley  73'	Report[23] Scoreboard[24]	Try: Peter Wanjiru  11' Courtney Cupido  26' Byron Burgess  49' Con: Darian Hock  27', 50' (2/3) Cards: Stuart Austin 60' to 71' Tahriq Allan 69' to 79'	Referee: Jaco Pretorius

	15 February 2016	UKZN Impi	58–10	UFH Blues	Peter Booysen Sports Park, Pietermaritzburg
	18:30	Try: Thobekani Buthelezi  1', 25' Kerron van Vuuren  9', 53' Tristan Tedder  37' Tristan Blewett  44' Shayne Makombe  77' Pierre van der Walt  80' Con: Tristan Tedder  2', 10', 26', 38', 45' (5/6) Spa Dube  78' (1/2)	Scoreboard[25]	Try: Sesethu Time  67' Con: Akhona Matutu  68' (1/1) Pen: Siviwe Bisset  11' (1/1) Akhona Matutu (0/1)	Referee: Vusi Msibi

Bye/s: Wits

Round four

	18 February 2016	TUT Vikings	30–63	UKZN Impi	TUT Stadium, Pretoria
	18:30	Try: Calvin Maduna  8' Tshepo Nyathi  28' Chestwin Gaffley  30' Shawn Jaards  61' Con: Lukas van Zyl  9', 31' (2/3) Frank Abrahams (0/1) Pen: Lukas van Zyl  12', 34' (2/2)	Report[26] Scoreboard[27]	Try: Jean Droste  3' Grant Rattray  16' S'busiso Nkosi  38', 57' Curwin Bosch  41' Andrew Acton  50' Tristan Blewett  63', 80' Tristan Tedder  72' Con: Curwin Bosch  4', 42', 51' (3/5) Tristan Tedder  58', 63', 73' (3/4) Drop: Curwin Bosch (0/1) Cards: S'busiso Nkosi 66' to 76'	Referee: Oregopotse Rametsi

	18 February 2016	UFH Blues	8–37	Wits	Davidson Rugby Field, Alice
	18:30	Try: Elandre Sias  27' Con: Siviwe Bisset  28' (1/1) Cards: Sibongile Novuka 36' to 46' Zanoxolo Qwele 38' to 48'	Report[28] Scoreboard[29]	Try: Constant Beckerling  4' CJ Conradie  22', 39' Josh Jarvis  31' Conor Brockschmidt  47' Con: Warren Gilbert  5', 23', 32', 48' (4/5) Cards: Craig Hume  72'	Referee: Rodney Boneparte

Bye/s: UWC

Round five

	22 February 2016	UFH Blues	18–14	TUT Vikings	Davidson Rugby Field, Alice
	18:30	Try: Asiphe Fihla  37' Athenkosi Makeleni  70' Aziyena Mandaba  79' Con: Siviwe Bisset (0/1) Athiphila Mlotywa  71' (1/2) Pen: Siviwe Bisset (0/1) Cards: Zanoxolo Qwele 49' to 59'	Report[30] Scoreboard[31]	Try: Dumisane Mthethwa  15' Con: Lukas van Zyl  16' (1/1) Pen: Lukas van Zyl  57', 61', 73' (3/3)	Referee: Sindile Ngcese

	22 February 2016	Wits	42–2	UWC	Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg
	18:30	Try: Luvuyo Pupuma  5', 51', 69' Kwanele Ngema  18', 64', 76' Con: Warren Gilbert  6', 19', 70', 77' (4/5) Pen: Warren Gilbert (0/1)	Report[32] Scoreboard[33]	Pen: Aidynn Cupido  47' (1/1)	Referee: Oregopotse Rametsi

Bye/s: UKZN Impi

Round six

	14 March 2016	UWC	30–5	UFH Blues	FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
	15:00	Try: Gordon-Wayne Plaatjes  3' Aidynn Cupido  7', 59' Matthew le Roux  36' Philbrey Joseph  44' Minenhle Mthethwa  72' Con: Aidynn Cupido (0/6)	Report[34] Scoreboard[35]	Try: Misugukhosi Pienaar  48' Con: Akhona Matutu (0/1) Cards: Zanoxolo Qwele  65'	Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys

	14 March 2016	Wits	21–26	UKZN Impi	FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
	13:00	Try: Tijde Visser  8' CJ Conradie  12' Josh Jarvis  37' Con: Warren Gilbert  13', 38' (2/3) Cards: Sicelo Champion  69'	Report[36] Scoreboard[37]	Try: Thobekani Buthelezi  44', 67' Morné Joubert  58' Con: Tristan Tedder  45', 59', 68' (3/3) Pen: Tristan Tedder  16' (1/1)	Referee: Jaco Pretorius

Bye/s: TUT Vikings

Round seven

	19 March 2016	TUT Vikings	8–47	Wits	Rand Stadium, Johannesburg
	10:00	Try: George Letshuma  32' Con: Lukas van Zyl  33' (1/1)	Report[38] Scoreboard[39]	Try: Josh Jarvis  10' Luvuyo Pupuma  17', 49' Kwanele Ngema  23' Richard Crossman  46' Ruan Macdonald  66' Ayabulela Mdudi  81' Con: Kyle Wesemann  18', 47', 50' (3/6) Luxolo Ntsepe  67' (1/1) Cards: Conor Brockschmidt 35' to 41'	Referee: Pieter Maritz

	19 March 2016	UKZN Impi	16–44	UWC	Rand Stadium, Johannesburg
	12:00	Try: Tristan Blewett  58' Shayne Makombe  77' Con: Tristan Tedder  58', 78' (2/2)	Report[40] Scoreboard[41]	Try: Matthew Faught  3' Aidynn Cupido  26', 73' José Julies  61' Dean Herbert  80' Con: Aidynn Cupido  4', 27', 62', 74', 81' (5/5) Pen: Aidynn Cupido  13' (1/1) Drop: Aidynn Cupido  42' (1/1)	Referee: Paul Mente

Bye/s: UFH Blues

Round eight

	21 March 2016	UFH Blues	0–97	UKZN Impi	Rand Stadium, Johannesburg
	13:00	Pen: Akhona Matutu (0/1) Cards: Athiphila Mlotywa 26' to 35' Siphesihle Punguzwa 39' to 50' Sibusiso Sityebi  68' Justin Riaan Antonie  73'	Report[42] Scoreboard[43]	Try: Grant Rattray  2', 8' Wikus Badenhorst  19' Thobekani Buthelezi  23', 49' Kerron van Vuuren  27' Tristan Blewett  31', 69' Marius Louw  53' Blake Mingay  55' Pierre van der Walt  58' Ado Wessels  73' Shayne Makombe  75', 79' Con: Tristan Tedder  3', 31', 50', 54', 55', 58', 69', 73', 76' (9/14)	Referee: Mpho Matsaung

	21 March 2016	UWC	41–16	TUT Vikings	Rand Stadium, Johannesburg
	15:00	Try: José Julies  3', 39' Brandon Valentyn  12' Peter Wanjiru  23' Clayton Daniels  29' Dean Herbert  51' Marcus Kleinbooi  74' Con: Aidynn Cupido  30' (1/5) Darian Hock  51' (1/1) Yaasien Railoun (0/1) Cards: Matthew Faught  77'	Report[44] Scoreboard[45]	Try: Christo Lategan  21' Lukas van Zyl  26' Con: Lukas van Zyl  22', 26' (2/2) Cards: Dumisane Mthethwa 57' to 69'	Referee: Paul Mente

Bye/s: Wits

Round nine

	26 March 2016	Wits	64–13	UFH Blues	Rand Stadium, Johannesburg
	9:00	Try: Rhyno Herbst  8', 14' CJ Conradie  21', 67' Constant Beckerling  50', 58' Richard Crossman  53' Sicelo Champion  69', 75', 78' Conor Brockschmidt  72' Con: Kyle Wesemann (0/3) Warren Gilbert  51', 53', 73' (3/8) Cards: Rhyno Herbst 62' to 73'	Report[46] Scoreboard[47]	Try: Akhona Matutu  26' Siviwe Bisset  46' Con: Akhona Matutu  27' (1/2) Cards: Luyolo Batshise  21'	Referee: Ricus van der Hoven

	26 March 2016	UKZN Impi	72–8	TUT Vikings	Rand Stadium, Johannesburg
	15:00	Try: Thobekani Buthelezi  3', 42', 79' Shayne Makombe  10' Grant Rattray  23' Marius Louw  31', 66' Kerron van Vuuren  61' John-Hubert Meyer  64' Con: Tristan Tedder  4', 11', 24', 32', 43', 62', 65', 67', 80' (9/9) Drop: Tristan Tedder (0/1) Cards: Tristan Blewett 54' to 64'	Report[48] Scoreboard[49]	Try: Kurt MacKay  53' Con: Frank Abrahams  54' (1/1) Cards: George Letshuma  20' Tshepo Nyathi  22'	Referee: Sindile Ngcese

Bye/s: UWC

Round ten

	28 March 2016	UWC	13–60	Wits	FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
	13:00	Try: Wayrin Losper  38' Peter Wanjiru  71' Con: Aidynn Cupido  72' (1/2)	Report[50] Scoreboard[51]	Try: Sicelo Champion  19' Josh Jarvis  21', 27' Wade Worthington  40', 48' CJ Conradie  59' Kwanele Ngema  76' Warren Gilbert  79' Con: Warren Gilbert  20', 22', 40', 60', 77', 80' (6/8) Drop: Warren Gilbert  18' (1/1)	Referee: Jaco Pretorius

	28 March 2016	TUT Vikings	45–40	UFH Blues	FNB Stadium, Johannesburg
	15:00	Try: Ian Truter  4', 80' Calvin Maduna  11' Christo Lategan  31' Tshepo Nyathi  38' Claude Johannes  59' Con: Shawn Jaards  12', 32', 39', 60', 81' (5/6)	Report Scoreboard[52]	Try: Lukho Jongizulu  20' Sibongile Novuka  24' Siviwe Bisset  28' Luyolo Batshise  50' Athiphila Mlotywa  74' Con: Siviwe Bisset  21' (1/1) Elandre Sias  25', 29', 51', 75' (4/4) Cards: Elandre Sias 32' to 41'	Referee: Ruhan Meiring

Bye/s: UKZN Impi

Final

	18 April 2016	Wits	39–2	UWC	Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg
	18:30	Try: Ruan Cloete  5' Kyle Wesemann  14' Graham Logan  40' CJ Conradie  60' Constant Beckerling  67' Con: Warren Gilbert  14', 40', 61', 68' (4/5) Pen: Warren Gilbert (0/1) Drop: Warren Gilbert  29' (1/1)	Report[53] Scoreboard[54]	Pen: Aidynn Cupido  12' (1/1)	Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni

Honours

The honour roll for the 2016 Varsity Shield was as follows:

2016 Varsity Shield Honours
Champions:	Wits
Player That Rocks:	Thobekani Buthelezi, UKZN Impi[55]
Forward That Rocks:	Rhyno Herbst, Wits[56]
Back That Rocks:	Aidynn Cupido, UWC[57]
Top Try Scorers:	Thobekani Buthelezi, UKZN Impi (9)
Top Points Scorer:	Tristan Tedder, UKZN Impi (114)

Players

Player statistics

The following table contain points that were scored in the 2016 Varsity Shield:^[58]

All point scorers
No	Player	Team	T	C	P	DG	Pts
1	Tristan Tedder	UKZN Impi	2	34	1	0	114
2	Warren Gilbert	Wits	1	25	0	1	82
3	Aidynn Cupido	UWC	4	7	2	1	47
4	Thobekani Buthelezi	UKZN Impi	9	0	0	0	45
5	Lukas van Zyl	TUT Vikings	1	7	6	0	38
6	Tristan Blewett	UKZN Impi	7	0	0	0	35
	CJ Conradie	Wits	7	0	0	0	35
8	Constant Beckerling	Wits	5	0	0	0	25
	Curwin Bosch	UKZN Impi	1	6	1	0	25
	Josh Jarvis	Wits	5	0	0	0	25
	Shayne Makombe	UKZN Impi	5	0	0	0	25
	Kwanele Ngema	Wits	5	0	0	0	25
	Luvuyo Pupuma	Wits	5	0	0	0	25
	Kerron van Vuuren	UKZN Impi	5	0	0	0	25
15	Siviwe Bisset	UFH Blues	2	3	1	0	21
16	Sicelo Champion	TUT Vikings	4	0	0	0	20
	Shawn Jaards	TUT Vikings	1	5	0	0	20
	Grant Rattray	UKZN Impi	4	0	0	0	20
19	Elandre Sias	UFH Blues	1	4	0	0	17
20	Conor Brockschmidt	Wits	3	0	0	0	15
	Philbrey Joseph	UWC	3	0	0	0	15
	José Julies	UWC	3	0	0	0	15
	Marius Louw	UKZN Impi	3	0	0	0	15
	Ruan Macdonald	Wits	3	0	0	0	15
	S'busiso Nkosi	UKZN Impi	3	0	0	0	15
	Tshepo Nyathi	TUT Vikings	3	0	0	0	15
	Peter Wanjiru	UWC	3	0	0	0	15
28	Akhona Matutu	UFH Blues	1	2	0	0	11
29	Richard Crossman	Wits	2	0	0	0	10
	Asiphe Fihla	UFH Blues	2	0	0	0	10
	Dean Herbert	UWC	2	0	0	0	10
	Rhyno Herbst	Wits	2	0	0	0	10
	Claude Johannes	TUT Vikings	2	0	0	0	10
	Marcus Kleinbooi	UWC	2	0	0	0	10
	Christo Lategan	TUT Vikings	2	0	0	0	10
	Calvin Maduna	TUT Vikings	2	0	0	0	10
	Jason Marcus	UWC	2	0	0	0	10
	Thato Marobela	Wits	2	0	0	0	10
	Ian Truter	TUT Vikings	2	0	0	0	10
	Pierre van der Walt	UKZN Impi	2	0	0	0	10
	Wade Worthington	Wits	2	0	0	0	10
42	Darian Hock	UWC	0	3	0	0	9
	Kyle Wesemann	Wits	0	3	0	0	9
44	Athiphila Mlotywa	UFH Blues	1	1	0	0	8
45	Andrew Acton	UKZN Impi	1	0	0	0	5
	Wikus Badenhorst	UKZN Impi	1	0	0	0	5
	Luyolo Batshise	UFH Blues	1	0	0	0	5
	Byron Burgess	UWC	1	0	0	0	5
	Ruan Cloete	Wits	1	0	0	0	5
	Courtney Cupido	UWC	1	0	0	0	5
	Clayton Daniels	UWC	1	0	0	0	5
	Jean Droste	UKZN Impi	1	0	0	0	5
	Matthew Faught	UWC	1	0	0	0	5
	Chestwin Gaffley	TUT Vikings	1	0	0	0	5
	Lukho Jongizulu	UFH Blues	1	0	0	0	5
	Morné Joubert	UKZN Impi	1	0	0	0	5
	Jaywinn Juries	UKZN Impi	1	0	0	0	5
	Matthew le Roux	UWC	1	0	0	0	5
	George Letshuma	TUT Vikings	1	0	0	0	5
	Wayrin Losper	UWC	1	0	0	0	5
	Kurt MacKay	TUT Vikings	1	0	0	0	5
	Athenkosi Makeleni	UFH Blues	1	0	0	0	5
	Aziyena Mandaba	UFH Blues	1	0	0	0	5
	Ayebulela Mdudi	UFH Blues	1	0	0	0	5
	John-Hubert Meyer	UKZN Impi	1	0	0	0	5
	Michael Meyer	UKZN Impi	1	0	0	0	5
	Blake Mingay	UKZN Impi	1	0	0	0	5
	Dumisane Mthethwa	TUT Vikings	1	0	0	0	5
	Minenhle Mthethwa	UWC	1	0	0	0	5
	Sibongile Novuka	UFH Blues	1	0	0	0	5
	Misugukhosi Pienaar	UFH Blues	1	0	0	0	5
	Gordon-Wayne Plaatjies	UWC	1	0	0	0	5
	Sesethu Time	UFH Blues	1	0	0	0	5
	Brandon Valentyn	UWC	1	0	0	0	5
	Tijde Visser	Wits	1	0	0	0	5
	Ado Wessels	UKZN Impi	1	0	0	0	5
	Zwela Zondi	UKZN Impi	1	0	0	0	5
78	Frank Abrahams	TUT Vikings	0	1	0	0	3
	Spa Dube	UKZN Impi	0	1	0	0	3
	Luxolo Ntsepe	Wits	0	1	0	0	3
	AJ van Blerk	Wits	0	1	0	0	3
	Melik Wana	UWC	0	1	0	0	3
—	penalty try	Wits	1	0	0	0	5
Note: Conversions count three points, while penalties and drop goals count two points. * Legend: T = Tries, C = Conversions, P = Penalties, DG = Drop Goals, Pts = Points.

Squads

The following squads were named for the 2016 Varsity Shield:

2016 TUT Vikings squad^[59]

Forwards		Francois de Villiers • Chestwin Gaffley • Dehan Groenewald • Jurie Huyser • Claude Johannes • Wessel Jordaan • Christo Lategan • George Letshuma • Calvin Maduna • Armand Marshall • Percy Matlhoko • Ratsaka Modjadji • DK Mukendi • Jacob Nelson • Kevin Nkateko • William Thomson • Schalk van Niekerk • Cornelius van Rooyen • Jonty Voogt • Did not play: • Erich Broodrijk • Gilbert Chalmers • Ian Ewart • James Frost • Jean-Claude le Roux • Albert Lubbe • Mandla Mdaka • Ryan Sim • Wian van Schalkwyk
Backs		Frank Abrahams • Lisa Banzi • Arno Brits • Mfundo Gumede • Shawn Jaards • Kurt MacKay • Dumisane Mthethwa • Tshepo Nyathi • Ian Truter • Lukas van Zyl • Litha Vumisa • Did not play: • Dalton Peter Dreyer • Cascious Andilj Dube • Runaldo Hendricks • Dikgang John Jabar • Melusi Meluleki Ndwandwe • Welcome Ngwenya • Ulikhaya Lavuya Nqoto • Bongani Phangisa • Gahno Bradley Calten Prins
Coach		Hennie Pieterse

2016 UFH Blues squad^[60]

Forwards		Justin Riaan Antonie • Asiphe Fanele • Lulamile Kama • Lwando Mabenge • Athenkosi Makeleni • Bulelani Mdodana • Olwethu Mputla • Philisani Ncoko • Lusindiso Nkomo • Lwando Nteta • Misugukhosi Pienaar • Siphesihle Punguzwa • Zanoxolo Qwele • Sibusiso Sityebi • Hendri Storm • Sesethu Time • Mzinga Vitsha • Malusi Vula • Did not play: • Sakhumzi Bobi • Daniel Caku-Caku • Tsepo Themba Gcanga • Siphelele Njobeni • Ntsika Nyalambisa • Ashley Prince
Backs		Luyolo Batshise • Siviwe Bisset • Asiphe Fihla • Lukho Jongizulu • Aziyena Mandaba • Qama Masiza • Akhona Matutu • Athiphila Mlotywa • Sibongile Novuka • Elandre Sias • Sethu Tom • Siphosethu Tsotsa • Siphuxolo Zaula • Did not play: • Curwin Jacobus • Geraldo Joseph • Ntsika Kula • Lee Mavuso • Patrick Mbangi • Lithabile Mgwadleka • Sithembiso Ngwenya • Sivakele Ulana
Coach		Lumumba Currie

2016 UKZN Impi squad^[61]

Forwards		Andrew Acton • Jean Droste • Erich Kankowski • Sanele Malwane • Jordan Martin • Khuthu Mchunu • John-Hubert Meyer • Michael Meyer • Ntando Mpofana • Clive Musasiwa • Kwezi Puza • Lindo Radebe • Christie van der Merwe • Pierre van der Walt • Kerron van Vuuren • Mikyle Webster • Ado Wessels • Zwela Zondi • Rikus Zwart • Did not play: • Siya Mhlongo
Backs		Wikus Badenhorst • Tristan Blewett • Curwin Bosch • Thobekani Buthelezi • Spa Dube • Morné Joubert • Jaywinn Juries • Marius Louw • Shayne Makombe • Blake Mingay • S'busiso Nkosi • Grant Rattray • Langelihle Shange • Tristan Tedder • Alwayno Visagie • Did not play: • Richard Bamber • Alrich Brown • Ilunga Mukendi • Michael Sibiya • Zweli Silaule • Sandile Zulu
Coach		Michael Horak

2016 UWC squad^[62]

Forwards		Tahriq Allan • Stuart Austin • Brandon Beukman • Alwyn Carstens • Kelvin de Bruyn • Sabelo Dlamini • Keenan Douw • Matthew Faught • Philbrey Joseph • José Julies • Matthew le Roux • Wayrin Losper • Darren Luiters • Jeremy Papier • Robin Paulse • Verno Treu • Brandon Valentyn • Peter Wanjiru • Did not play: • Axolile Apleni • Bradley Jumaats • Heynes Kotze • George Piet Taona Saungweme • Tiaan Smuts
Backs		Byron Burgess • Aidynn Cupido • Courtney Cupido • Clayton Daniels • Lubabalo Faleni • Dean Herbert • Darian Hock • Marcus Kleinbooi • Monre Lingeveldt • Jason Marcus • Jacquin Moses • Ruan Mostert • Minenhle Mthethwa • Matthew Nortjé • Gordon-Wayne Plaatjes • Yaasien Railoun • Octaven van Stade • Wilbré van Wyk • Melik Wana • Did not play: • Carlisle Castle • Niyaas Johnson • Rufus Witbooi
Coach		Chester Williams

2016 Wits squad^[63]

Forwards		Constant Beckerling • Conor Brockschmidt • CJ Conradie • Richard Crossman • Mitchell Fraser • Rhyno Herbst • Craig Hume • Graham Logan • Ruan Macdonald • Ayabulela Mdudi • Brandon Palmer • Luvuyo Pupuma • Tijde Visser • Ameer Williams • Did not play: • Justin Brandon • Jethi de Lange • CJ Greeff • Matthys Johannes Human • Pascal Snyman • JP Swart • Gihard Visagie
Backs		Sicelo Champion • Ruan Cloete • Wian Coetzee • Warren Gilbert • Josh Jarvis • Thato Marobela • Kwanele Ngema • Luxolo Ntsepe • AJ van Blerk • Kyle Wesemann • Wade Worthington • Did not play: • Paolo Andrews • Bin Kasende Kapepula • Divan Minnaar • Sibusiso Mngomezulu • Kyle Schachat • Dandré van den Berg
Coach		Hugo van As

Discipline

The following table contains all the cards handed out during the tournament:^[64]

Cards
Player	Team
Zanoxolo Qwele	UFH Blues	1	2
Luyolo Batshise	UFH Blues	1	0
George Letshuma	TUT Vikings	0	2
Tahriq Allan	UWC	0	1
Justin Riaan Antonie	UFH Blues	0	1
Stuart Austin	UWC	0	1
Tristan Blewett	UKZN Impi	0	1
Conor Brockschmidt	Wits	0	1
Sicelo Champion	Wits	0	1
Sabelo Dlamini	UWC	0	1
Matthew Faught	UWC	0	1
Chestwin Gaffley	TUT Vikings	0	1
Rhyno Herbst	Wits	0	1
Craig Hume	Wits	0	1
Athiphila Mlotywa	UFH Blues	0	1
Dumisane Mthethwa	TUT Vikings	0	1
S'busiso Nkosi	UKZN Impi	0	1
Sibongile Novuka	UFH Blues	0	1
Tshepo Nyathi	TUT Vikings	0	1
Siphesihle Punguzwa	UFH Blues	0	1
Elandre Sias	UFH Blues	0	1
Sibusiso Sityebi	UFH Blues	0	1
Brandon Valentyn	UWC	0	1
Lukas van Zyl	TUT Vikings	0	1
* Legend: = Sent off, = Sin-binned

Referees

The following referees officiated matches in the 2016 Varsity Shield:

• Rodney Boneparte
• Ben Crouse
• Stephan Geldenhuys
• AJ Jacobs
• Cwengile Jadezweni
• Pieter Maritz
• Mpho Matsaung
• Ruhan Meiring
• Paul Mente
• Vusi Msibi
• Sindile Ngcese
• Jaco Pretorius
• Oregopotse Rametsi
• Egon Seconds
• Ricus van der Hoven

See also

• Varsity Cup
• 2016 Varsity Rugby
• 2016 Varsity Cup
• 2016 Gold Cup

Notes

1. On 22 March 2016, the Varsity Cup Executive Committee announced that UFH Blues had two points deducted for fielding an ineligible player in their Round One match against UWC. In addition, UWC was awarded an additional point.^[8]
2. On 5 April 2016, the Varsity Cup Executive Committee announced that UKZN Impi had twelve points deducted for fielding an ineligible player throughout the season. Despite previously qualifying to play in the Varsity Shield final and in a Varsity Cup promotion play-off against UCT Ikey Tigers, UKZN Impi were replaced by UWC in both these matches.^[9]