Varsity Netball
University netball league in South Africa
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Varsity Netball is a netball league featuring teams representing universities in South Africa. It was formed in 2013. UFS Kovsies were the inaugural winners and they remain the league's most successful team. It is one of several similar sports competitions that form the Varsity Sports series. Others include leagues for men's football, women's football, field hockey, men's rugby union, and women's rugby union.[2]
| |
| Sport | Netball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2013 |
| No. of teams | 8 |
| Country | South Africa |
| Most recent champion | NWU Pukke (3rd title) |
| Most titles | UFS Kovsies (5 titles) |
| Broadcaster | SuperSport[1] |
| Sponsors | First National Bank Suzuki[1] |
| Official website | Varsity Netball |
History
UFS Kovsies
In 2013, UFS Kovsies won the inaugural tournament. With a team captained by Maryka Holtzhausen, they defeated NWU-Pukke 44–40 in the final.[3][4] They won further titles in 2014, 2018, and 2021.[5] In 2024, UFS Kovsies won their fifth title, after defeating UJ Netball 58–55 in the final.[6][7][8]
UFS Kovsies are closely associated with Free State Crinums of the Telkom Netball League. In 2018, 2019 and 2020, Crinums were a de facto Kovsie team. The vast majority of their squad members, including Lefébre Rademan and Khanyisa Chawane, were University of the Free State students. Crinums head coach, Burta de Kock, was also the head coach of Kovsies.[9][10][11]
NWU-Pukke
In 2015 and 2016, with teams featuring Sigrid Burger, Renske Stoltz and Jeanté Strydom, NWU-Pukke won two successive titles. In 2015, after finishing the regular season in fourth place, they eliminated two-time defending champions, UFS Kovsies, in semi-final before going onto defeat Maties 50–37 in the final. In 2016 they retained the title following a narrow 56–55 win over UP-Tuks.[12][13][14]
UP-Tuks
In 2017, after finishing as runners-up in 2014 and 2016, UP-Tuks and won their first title. Their winning team was coached by Jenny van Dyk, captained by Shadine van der Merwe and featured Marlize de Bruin and Ine-Marí Venter. In the final, they defeated NWU-Pukke 43–41.[15][16][17] In 2019, UP-Tuks won their second title, this time defeating Maties 48–43 in the final.[18][19] In 2023, UP-Tuks won their third title after defeating UJ Netball 63–61 in the final.[20][21][22]
UP-Tuks are closely associated with Gauteng Jaguars. Since 2017, Jaguars have been winning Premier Netball League titles. The core of their team is made up of UP-Tuks players. Jenny van Dyk, served as head coach of both UP-Tuks and Jaguars.[23][24]
Teams
| Team | University | Home venue | TNL partner |
|---|---|---|---|
| UFS Kovsies Netball[5] | University of the Free State | Callie Human Hall | Free State Crinums |
| UJ Netball[25] | University of Johannesburg | Gauteng Golden Fireballs[26][27] | |
| Madibaz Netball[28] | Nelson Mandela University | Madibaz Sports Centre | Eastern Cape Aloes[29] |
| NWU Netball Pukke[30] | North-West University | NWU Mafikeng Great Hall | North West Flames |
| UP-Tuks Netball[31] | University of Pretoria | Rembrandt Hall | Gauteng Jaguars |
| Maties Netball | Stellenbosch University | Coetzenburg Indoor Arena | |
| TUT Netball | Tshwane University of Technology | ||
| Wits Netball[32] | University of the Witwatersrand | Wits Sports Hall | |
Finals
| Season | Winners | Score | Runners up | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013[3][4] | UFS Kovsies | 44–40 | NWU-Pukke | Potchefstroom |
| 2014[34][35][36] | UFS Kovsies | 49–42 | UP-Tuks | Rembrandt Hall |
| 2015[12][37][38] | NWU-Pukke | 50–37 | Maties | Coetzenburg Indoor Arena |
| 2016[13][14] | NWU-Pukke | 56–55 | UP-Tuks | Rembrandt Hall |
| 2017[15][16][17] | UP-Tuks | 43–41 | NWU-Pukke | Rembrandt Hall |
| 2018[39][40] | UFS Kovsies | 63–59 | UP-Tuks | Bloemfontein |
| 2019[18][19] | UP-Tuks | 48–43 | Maties | Rembrandt Hall |
| 2020 | (Note 1) | |||
| 2021[41][42][43] | UFS Kovsies | 55–39 | Maties | Coetzenburg Indoor Arena |
| 2022[44][45] | Maties | 68–55 | NWU-Pukke | Coetzenburg Indoor Arena |
| 2023[20][21][22] | UP-Tuks | 63–61 | UJ Netball | Rembrandt Hall |
| 2024[7][8] | UFS Kovsies | 58–55 | UJ Netball | Callie Human Hall |
| 2025[46] | NWU-Pukke | 57–49 | UFS Kovsies | Callie Human Hall |
- Notes
- ^1 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa.
Source:[2]
Notable players
Winning captains
| Season | Team | Captains |
|---|---|---|
| 2013[3][4] | UFS Kovsies | Maryka Holtzhausen |
| 2014[35][47] | UFS Kovsies | Karla Mostert |
| 2015 | ||
| 2016[13][14] | NWU-Pukke | Chante Bester |
| 2017[15][16][17] | UP-Tuks | Shadine van der Merwe |
| 2018[48][39] | UFS Kovsies | Alicia Puren |
| 2019[18][19] | UP-Tuks | Tshina Mdau |
| 2021[43] | UFS Kovsies | Sikholiwe Mdletshe |
| 2022[44] | Maties | Sian Moore |
| 2023[20][22] | UP-Tuks | Kamogelo Maseka |
| 2024[8] | UFS Kovsies | Refiloe Nketsa |
| 2025[46] | NWU Pukke | Martine Jordaan |
Player of the Tournament
| Season | Team | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| 2013[49] | UFS Kovsies | Ané Botha |
| 2014[35][47] | UFS Kovsies | Karla Mostert |
| 2015 | UFS Kovsies | Karla Mostert |
| 2016[13][14][50] | UP-Tuks | Shadine van der Merwe |
| 2017[51] | UFS Kovsies | Khomotso Mamburu |
| 2018[39][40] | UFS Kovsies | Khanyisa Chawane |
| 2019[52] | UFS Kovsies | Lefébre Rademan |
| 2021[41][42] | Maties | Nicholé Taljaard |
| 2022[44] | NWU-Pukke | Elmeré van den Berg |
| 2023[20][22] | NWU-Pukke | Sanmarie Visser |
| 2024[6][8] | UFS Kovsies | Rolene Streutker |
| 2025[46] | UFS Kovsies | Reratilwe Letsoalo |
