The wait is over! Mettlestate, in partnership with ASEM, is bringing South African university esports enthusiasts a brand new tournament. Registration is now open for the inaugural Varsity Esports . If you're a bona-fide student at one of South Africa’s top universities and have a passion for Rocket League, Valorant, or EAFC25 , this is your chance to represent your university and compete for glory!   “ The launch of Varsity Esports is an exciting milestone for both university sport and competitive gaming in South Africa,” s ays University Sport Company CEO, Flip van Zyl . “Varsity Esports represents a unique opportunity for student-athletes to showcase their talents, build community and gain recognition in a rapidly growing industry. Not only is it exciting for players but also for brands. “ I can’t wait to see how big brand companies will use this opportunity to leverage Esports growing popularity. I am looking forward to two fiercely contested seasons across the gaming titles , adds van Zyl.”   University students eager to participate should reach out to their university's Esports Manager  to secure their place in the tournament. Esport manager’s contact details can be found on the Varsity Esports website, here.   “Esports is finally an official code in the university ecosystem. This is monumental, and a huge step forward in developing and growing esports in not only South Africa, but the whole African continent,” says Barry Louzada, Managing Director and founder of Mettlestate. “We are so excited to launch Varsity Esports and help grow the scene. This is opening so many doors, and we’re looking forward to seeing what the next generation of gamers can do.” The Varsity Esports roster: If you belong to one of the following institutions, you can get your game on  with Varsity Esports: ·       Central University of Technology   ·       Mangosuthu University of Technology ·       Rhodes University ·       Sole Plaatje University       ·       Stellenbosch University   ·       Tshwane University of Technology ·       University of Cape Town  ·       University of Johannesburg ·       University of KwaZulu-Natal  ·       University of Pretoria ·       University of the Free State ·       University of the Western Cape ·       University of the Witwaterstrand ·       Vaal University of Technology ·       Varsity College   Tournament Format & Structure The Varsity Esports Tournament will feature a Swiss Bracket system , ensuring fair and competitive matchups throughout the season. With two seasons per year , teams will compete for a spot at the Grand Finals at the end of 2025. Showcase your university pride on a national stage as you compete against South Africa’s top student teams in an intense esports showdown. Experience the thrill of live, in-person grand finals and take your esports career to the next level in a structured, professional environment. With valuable exposure, competitive experience, and the chance to win big, with a total of R90 000 up for grabs!   “It is all systems go for the first season of Varsity Esports,” says Marnus van Huyssteen, Head of ASEM Corporate. “We are in the final planning stages of bringing a brand new esport tournament to the very competitive university sport space. Varsity Esports forms part of the Varsity Sports brand and will see SA’s top university esport teams compete in a brand new tournament. Our aim is to help grow esport in South Africa and give gamers the opportunity to showcase their talent. For our first season we’re allowing multiple teams from all universities to participate if they are registered with their relevant sports department. We hope to see Varsity Esports stars competing on the international stage very soon. Get ready for Sportainment on another level!”   Don’t Miss Out! The action starts soon. Make sure you don’t miss your chance to compete, represent, and dominate  in South Africa’s top varsity esports league. 📅  Registrations for Season 1 are now open HERE!  Get in touch with your university’s Esports Manager  today and secure your spot! Follow Mettlestate and Varsity Sports for updates and announcements. Let the games begin!  🎮🔥

In a groundbreaking move set to redefine the sports and entertainment landscape, Mettlestate and Advent Sport Entertainment and Media (ASEM) proudly announce the launch of  Varsity Esports , South Africa’s premier university-level esports tournament. This thrilling initiative offers a dynamic platform for the nation’s top university esports teams to showcase their skills.   Barry Louzada, managing director and founder of Mettlestate says, “With esports rapidly becoming one of the fastest-growing industries globally – outpacing  traditional entertainment sectors like film and music – Varsity Esports bridges the gap between grassroots talent development and professional competition. This marks a pivotal step in giving esports athletes the same prestige and opportunities long afforded to traditional sports stars.”   Key highlights of Varsity Esports   Nationwide Participation : 25 universities will battle through rigorous USSA qualifiers, with the top 8 advancing to year-long tournaments. Epic Titles : Players will compete in three top-tier gaming titles, aiming for a share of the R90,000 prize pool. Grand Finale : The top two teams per title will go head-to-head in front of thousands of fans on the live stage at rAge Expo 2025 Comprehensive Visibility : From digital broadcasts to live events, Varsity Esports offers unmatched brand engagement opportunities across multiple platforms, including Twitch, SuperSport, and social media.   The year-long competition kicks off in March 2025 with Season 1, followed by Season 2 in July. The finals are scheduled for September, culminating in a live grand finale at the rAge Expo in November 2025.   A new era of sports   “We’re very excited about adding esports to the Varsity Sports brand,” says Marnus van Huyssteen, ASEM Corporate Head. “Varsity Esports taps into a vibrant audience aged 18-30, combining competitive spirit with cutting-edge entertainment. This initiative underscores our commitment to nurturing the next generation of athletes while connecting brands to a market on the cusp of significant purchasing power.”   “Mettlestate invites brands to pioneer this new frontier in sports and youth culture. With exclusive sponsorship opportunities available, this is a chance to make a lasting impact on a passionate and engaged audience,” ends Louzada.   To follow all the action, come to rAge expo on 29 November – 1 December at the Johannesburg Expo Centre or on all Mettlestate social platforms. More details and tickets HERE .

In one of the most exciting finals since the start of the competition, UFS Kovsies beat UJ 58-55 in extra time at the Callie Human Hall in Bloemfontein to be crowned the 2024 Varsity Netball champions. This is the fifth time Kovsies lifted the trophy while UJ were defeated for the second year running in the final. From the first whistle, UJ launched an aggressive attack, but it was the home team who scored first to load cheers from their supporters. The Orange Army soon gained their footing and levelled matters. It was Kovsies who held a slim 13-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.  The intense battle continued in the second quarter. While Kovsies barely retained their one-goal lead, UJ never lost confidence in their goal shooter, Muhluri Hlatshwayo. Hlatshwayo took a tumble just before the halftime whistle but was quickly up on her feet. At the halftime break, Kovsies still had their noses in front, 23-21.   The next 15 minutes were marked by utter concentration, with both teams looking to gain the upper hand. Every aspect was matched step by step with neither the Orange Army or Kovsies dominating any specific area. Once again, the home team clung to one-goal lead, 35-34.   With both power plays still on the table in the last quarter, it was going to come down to the wire. UJ took the lead during the first power play by taking their opponents out of their comfort zone, slowing the game down and making sure they retained ball possession. The last power play put both teams within striking distance of a win. With the crowd chanting “UFS, UFS, UFS” in the dying seconds of the game, Xandri Fourie equalised (47-47) to send the match into overtime. Nothing separated the two teams in the first seven minutes of extra time, with the scoreboard reading 51-51. It was in the final seven minutes of the pulsating affair that Kovsies finally kicked into the highest gear. Fuelled by their enthusiastic home supporters, they put the nail into the coffin (58-55) and were crowned champions for the fifth time. Quarter Scores:  13-12 | 23-21 | 35-34 | 47-47 | 58-55 (extra time) FNB Player of the Match:  Refiloe Nketsa (UFS Kovsies) FNB Player of the Tournament: Rolene Streutker (UFS Kovsies) Suzuki Player’s Player of the Tournament: Sunel Smit (NWU) UFS Kovsies: Liamé De Lange, Demi-Leigh de Jager, Megan Erasmus, Xandri Fourie, Elri Groenewald, Reratilwe Ke-Morena Letsoalo, Asanele Malgas, Owami Mohuli, Refiloe Nketsa, Rolene Streutker, Charné van Vuuren, Karla Victor. UJ: Alexandra Meimaris, Aphiwe Thusini, Boitumelo Mehloko, Cornelia Mupenda, Gugulethu Mdladla, Henlize Basson, Jade Niemand, Kamogelo Motsepe, Muhluri Hlatshwayo, Sanelisiwe Ntobela, Tarle Mathe, Yanke Broodryk.

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VARSITY SHIELD Fixtures & Logs VARSITY CUP FIXTURES FIXTURES RESULTS RESULTS LOGS LOGS LATEST NEWS VIEW ALL VIEW ALL Kovsies crowned Varsity Netball 2024 champions after dramatic extra-time final Oct 7, 2024 2 min read Road to the Varsity Netball 2024 final: UFS vs UJ Oct 4, 2024 3 min read Vote for the Varsity Netball 2024 FNB Player of the Tournament! Oct 1, 2024 2 min read VARSITY CUP YOUNG GUNS VARSITY CUP WOMEN - Loading - - - - - - - Pos Team PL W D L PD BP PTS Add a Title Sort by Teams Rounds Season 00:00 Loading Loading Loading - - MATCH CENTRE Watch on Loading ROUND 1 Seasons Teams Rounds Season 00:00 Loading Loading Loading - BUY TICKETS Watch on Loading 00:00 Loading Live Loading - - Loading BUY TICKETS MATCH CENTRE Watch on Loading ROUND 1 Football Men Football Women Netball SPORTS Tickets Teams Fan Zone INFO Football Men Football Women Netball FIXTURES & LOGS Videos Photos News News MEDIA About Sponsors History ABOUT © 2023 Varsity Cup. All rights reserved | Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions | LATEST VIDEOS VIEW ALL VIEW ALL