With the echoes of last year's Varsity Cup final defeat still ringing in their ears, Maties and their captain Ezekiel Ngobeni are all fired up for a redemption tour in the 2026 season. After being trounced 44-21 by their bitter rivals UCT in the 2025 showdown, the Stellenbosch-based squad is itching to reclaim their throne as the titan of university rugby. With a record of five titles from 11 finals, Maties is no stranger to success, yet their last victory lap was back in 2019. This year, they kick off their quest for glory with a challenging opener against Shimlas on the road this Monday night.
Preparation for the new season saw Maties getting down and dirty with some heavyweight warm-up matches, including clashes against the Junior Boks and the Boland senior team. These encounters, according to Ngobeni, were more than just practice; they were a crucible that has honed the team's edge.
"Playing quality teams like the Junior Boks is always good for you,"
Ngobeni remarked, adding,
"You learn so much from it and it allows us as a team to see what works and what doesn’t. We also had a good outing against Boland in which I feel we did very well. You can see how the men are growing as a group. We gained a lot of confidence from that and are looking forward to the new season."
The Varsity Cup itself is embracing innovation this year, taking a leaf out of the NFL's playbook, although specifics of these changes remain under wraps. Ngobeni, a product of Tygerberg High and a former Junior Boks player at the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship, is a seasoned leader whose experience on the global stage is invaluable to the Maties outfit.
The opening round of the Varsity Cup promises plenty of action with other key fixtures including Tuks facing UCT Ikeys, CUT Ixias squaring off against NWU Eagles, and UJ taking on Emeris, all set for a Monday night showdown broadcasted live. As the teams line up for what promises to be another thrilling season, all eyes will be on whether Maties can navigate their way back to the top or if the ghosts of finals past will continue to haunt their steps.
2,100 posts
With the echoes of last year's Varsity Cup final defeat still ringing in their ears, Maties and their captain Ezekiel Ngobeni are all fired up for a redemption tour in the 2026 season. After being trounced 44-21 by their bitter rivals UCT in the 2025 showdown, the Stellenbosch-based squad is itching to reclaim their throne as the titan of university rugby. With a record of five titles from 11 finals, Maties is no stranger to success, yet their last victory lap was back in 2019. This year, they kick off their quest for glory with a challenging opener against Shimlas on the road this Monday night.
Preparation for the new season saw Maties getting down and dirty with some heavyweight warm-up matches, including clashes against the Junior Boks and the Boland senior team. These encounters, according to Ngobeni, were more than just practice; they were a crucible that has honed the team's edge.
"Playing quality teams like the Junior Boks is always good for you,"
Ngobeni remarked, adding,"You learn so much from it and it allows us as a team to see what works and what doesn’t. We also had a good outing against Boland in which I feel we did very well. You can see how the men are growing as a group. We gained a lot of confidence from that and are looking forward to the new season."
The Varsity Cup itself is embracing innovation this year, taking a leaf out of the NFL's playbook, although specifics of these changes remain under wraps. Ngobeni, a product of Tygerberg High and a former Junior Boks player at the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship, is a seasoned leader whose experience on the global stage is invaluable to the Maties outfit.
The opening round of the Varsity Cup promises plenty of action with other key fixtures including Tuks facing UCT Ikeys, CUT Ixias squaring off against NWU Eagles, and UJ taking on Emeris, all set for a Monday night showdown broadcasted live. As the teams line up for what promises to be another thrilling season, all eyes will be on whether Maties can navigate their way back to the top or if the ghosts of finals past will continue to haunt their steps.