NWU-Pukke will look to defend their Varsity Netball crown and win an unprecedented third title in a row this year.

Varsity Netball kicks off on 27 August, with the finals taking place on 8 October. Now in its fifth season, this intervarsity competition will see eight of South Africa’s top universities go head-to-head over eight weeks.

Participating teams include North-West University (NWU), University of Stellenbosch (Maties), University of Free State (Kovsies), Nelson Mandela University, Vaal University of Technology (VUT), University of the Western Cape (UWC), University of Johannesburg (UJ) and Central University of Technology (CUT).

The opening weekend will take place at Kovsies in Bloemfontein. The Varsity Netball action kicks off on Sunday, 27 August at 15:00 with UJ versus NWU followed by Kovsies versus Tuks at 16:30. On Monday, 28 August, NWU take on Tuks at 17:30 with Kovsies and UJ battling it out at 19:00. Monday’s matches will all be broadcast live on SuperSport Select (channel 210).

The talent in the Varsity Netball pool is extensive, with many players earning their national colours after running out for their respective universities. These players include Danelle Lochner (Kovsies), Ine-Mari Venter (Tuks), Lenize Potgieter (Tuks), Maryka Holtzhausen (Kovsies), Nadia Uys Pienaar (NWU), Karla Mostert (Kovsies) and Zanele Vimbela (Madibaz).

Fans will have the opportunity to paint their banners at select venues ahead of the matches. Stencils, paint and posters will be made available as part of a new match day innovation, tying in with Varsity Netball’s #ShowYourColours campaign.

Varsity Netball has only seen two winners in the past four seasons with Kovsies winning it back-to-back in 2013 and 2014, and NWU taking the title in 2015 and 2016.