2026 FNB Varsity Shield Fixtures | where to watch FNB Rugby Varsity Cup Games

The FNB Varsity Shield 2026 kicks off on Friday, 21 February, and rugby fans are in for a treat, with the majority of matches set to be broadcast live on SuperSport. Seven teams will compete for the coveted title, culminating in the final on 25 April.

The tournament format will see a slight change compared to the FNB Varsity Cup. Rounds one to six will be played across three action-packed weekends at selected venues, starting at Rhodes University.

In the opening weekend, defending champions FNB CPUT (Cape Peninsula University of Technology) take on FNB Rhodes at Rhodes Great Field with a 7pm kick-off, while former Varsity Shield winners FNB UKZN Impi (University of KwaZulu-Natal) clash with a determined FNB WSU All Blacks (Walter Sisulu University) side at 5pm.

The earlier kick-off, at 3pm, sees the FNB UFH Blues (Fort Hare) play the FNB TUT Vikings (Tshwane University of Technology), with FNB DUT (Durban University of Technology) having a bye on day one.

Varsity Rugby 2026 – Exciting Season Ahead

South African university rugby is back in full swing for 2026, with all Varsity competitions promising thrilling matches and live broadcasts:

• FNB Varsity Cup 2026 – The top-tier men’s university competition returns with high-intensity matches, showcasing the country’s elite student rugby talent. Fans can catch all action live on SuperSport.

• FNB Varsity Shield 2026 – Seven competitive teams will battle for promotion and glory, with rounds one to six spread across three bumper weekends. Matches are live on SuperSport, and the top four teams will qualify for the semifinals, leading to the grand final.

• FNB Young Guns 2026 – The development league for U20 talent, serving as a stepping stone to Varsity Cup and Shield success. Expect fast-paced, skill-packed rugby from the future stars of South African rugby.

• FNB Varsity Cup Women 2026 – Women’s rugby continues to grow, with top university teams competing for the national crown. All matches aim to be streamed live, giving fans front-row access to exciting women’s rugby action.

“Through our partnerships with SuperSport and our university communities, all these competitions continue to innovate, inspire, and provide unforgettable experiences for fans and players alike,” said Xhanti-Lomzi Nesi, Varsity Cup Tournament Manager.

2026 FNB Varsity Shield Fixtures

The Varsity Shield fixtures were finalized for the 2024 season.

23 February 2026
15:00 CPUT vs Madibaz @ CPUT Sports Stadium (TV)
19:00 UFH vs UP-Tuks @ Davidson Stadium
19:00 Varsity College vs TUT @ VCollege Durban North
19:00 WSU vs UKZN @ Sisa Dukashe Stadium

01 March 2026
15:00 UP-Tuks vs CPUT @ Tuks Stadium (TV)
19:00 Varsity College vs UFH @ VCollege Durban North
19:00 Madibaz vs UKZN @ Madibaz Stadium
19:00 TUT vs WSU @ TUT Sports Stadium

08 March 2026
15:00 UKZN vs Varsity College @ Peter Booysen Stadium (TV)
19:00 CPUT vs TUT @ CPUT Sports Stadium
19:00 UFH vs Madibaz @ Davidson Stadium
19:00 WSU vs UP-Tuks @ Sisa Dukashe Stadium

15 March 2026
15:00 UKZN vs TUT @ Howard College Stadium (TV)
19:00 UP-Tuks vs Varsity College @ Tuks Stadium
19:00 Madibaz vs WSU @ Madibaz Stadium
19:00 UFH vs CPUT @ Davidson Stadium

22 March 2026
15:00 WSU vs UFH @ Sisa Dukashe Stadium (TV)
19:00 Varsity College vs CPUT @ VCollege Durban North
19:00 TUT vs Madibaz @ TUT Sports Stadium
19:00 UKZN vs UP-Tuks @ Howard College Stadium

05 April 2026
15:00 CPUT vs WSU @ CPUT Sports Stadium (TV)
19:00 UFH vs UKZN @ Davidson Stadium
19:00 Madibaz vs Varsity College @ Madibaz Stadium
19:00 UP-Tuks vs TUT @ Tuks Stadium

12 April 2026
15:00 UP-Tuks vs Madibaz @ Tuks Stadium (TV)
19:00 UKZN vs CPUT @ Howard College Stadium
19:00 TUT vs UFH @ TUT Sports Stadium
19:00 WSU vs Varsity College @ Sisa Dukashe Stadium

19 April 2026
Semi-Final (TV)

26 April 2026
Final (TV)

“The return of the Varsity Cup and Varsity Shield to universities has been received extremely well,” said Xhanti-Lomzi Nesi, Varsity Cup Tournament Manager. “Thanks to our excellent partnership with SuperSport, every match of the first six rounds of the Varsity Shield will be broadcast live. We’re equally excited to welcome fans back to stadiums for our action-packed bumper weekends.”

Following the 2025 season, the team finishing at the bottom of the combined Varsity Shield log will face relegation from the tournament. The 2026 Varsity Cup and Varsity Shield titles will each feature eight competitive teams.

“CPUT has been a dominant force in the Varsity Shield in recent years, holding the trophy since 2019, with the 2020 season interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. This year, all teams are expected to bring their A-game,” Nesi added. “The Varsity Shield continues to prioritize innovation, pushing boundaries and positively impacting the university rugby community.”

At the conclusion of the round-robin phase, the top four teams on the log will advance to the semifinals on 13 April, leading up to the final on 21 April. Fans can look forward to a season of high-intensity rugby, thrilling plays, and unforgettable moments.

FNB Rugby Varsity Cup Sevens Streaming Channels broadcast partners

• HSBC World Rugby 7s Website (Selected regions, Free)
• Sky Sports (UK)
• Fox Sports (Australia)
• Ten Play (Australia)
• Sky NZ (New Zealand)
• NBC Sports (USA)
• TSN (Canada)
• DAZN (Germany)

At  allblacksnation.com you can watch FNB Rugby Varsity Cup Sevens match in 1080p video quality without any downtime and best part is it’s 100% free of cost ! you don’t have to pay a penny for watching this whole tournament.