Braver together: Ikey Tigers ready for 2026

The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) senior rugby team, the Ikey Tigers, have got their campaign back on track as they look to defend their title this year. This comes after a slip up in the opening game in Pretoria, losing 22–38, before a resounding 83–34 win against Central University of Technology (CUT) on 23 February.

They are captained this season by a familiar face at UCT and Western Cape rugby circles – Enos Ndiao – who, despite the early setback, said the team is gearing up to make 2026 their year. “It was amazing being back on the field, given the work in pre-season, so it’s been a lot of preparation, and it was especially amazing for the new faces in the team.”

The arrival of new players, said Ndiao, has been seamless, owing to the culture the Ikey Tigers have created. “A big part of our season is going to be about connection. We had a camp a few weeks ago and there … we solidified our connection as a team, and I feel the new guys feel at home and part of the first team. There’s no pressure on them to do anything magical – they must go out there and represent themselves and the club as best as they can.”

There are still five pool games before knockouts, including three home games on the Green Mile. This year, the Cape Derby – against rivals Maties (Stellenbosch University) – will also be played under the lights on 16 March. The team currently sits fourth on the log, with five points.

The captain sees being the defending champions as a “privilege”. “What we are trying to do is carry on with the confidence from last year. Of course, the cost of success has been that we have lost players, but at the end of the day, we welcome the pressure from teams, and that’s the mindset,” he said.

In reflecting on last year’s win away from home, the experienced lock said he hopes everyone involved shared in the team’s joy. “The privilege of it [playing for the team] is that you stop thinking about yourself as a player, but how it benefits people associated with the club.”

Ndiao continued: “Our DNA is what is going to carry us through as well, and that is being braver. That is true for every aspect of our lives. We’ve also got to be humble as we do our work and find that happy medium. We will compete as hard as we can on the field.

“We’ve got so much gratitude to the UCT community who continue to be our biggest supporters. We saw it last year and every year the supporters grow,” he said. “Having people support us with everything going on – be it academic or financial pressure – is something we do not take for granted. There are people worried about their future at the university and still take time to come and watch us play. It’s special for us and we would love that support again this year and brave the wind together on the Green Mile.”

The 2024 and 2025 “forward that rocks” will be carrying the responsibility of making the team a homely environment while also giving his best on the field. “There’s nothing more I want than for generations coming to UCT to experience Ikey Tigers the way I have. There’s enjoyment in it: we talk about academics and personal stuff, and everyone finds space in our club.”

Varsity Cup 2026

In 2026, the search to discover “Who’s NXT” begins. The initiative connects the proud legacy of Varsity Cup and Shield with a future that is still being written. As a competition known for its innovation, this year there is an American National Football League innovation, which has been introduced.

A new post-try scoring option means teams that score will be given a choice to kick for the standard two-point conversion or opt for an alternative that gives them 120 seconds to score another try. After a try, referees will ask captains whether they want to kick for poles or take a tap kick, with teams having 20 seconds to decide.

This season ends on 13 April.

Ikey Tigers remaining fixtures:

• 2 March: vs Emeris (A)
• 9 March: vs UJ (H)
• 16 March: vs Maties (H)
• 23 March: vs Shimlas (A)
• 30 March: vs NWU (A)