Although both the NWU and Tuks reached the final of the 2026 Varsity Cup on Monday, 13 April, no player from either team was chosen as a nominee for the Player of the Tournament award.
This award, called the FNB Player the Rocks award, is given to the best player of the tournament. Fans can vote for three nominated players in this category as well as the Forward that Rocks, Back that Rocks and Rookie of the Tournament awards.
It is quite puzzling that the two best teams of the tournament, NWU and Tuks, who ended the log phase in first and second position, have no nominees for the Player that Rocks. It would make the most logical sense, as both sides must have at least one good player to form part of this trio.
Instead, these players are Ezekiel Ngobeni (Maties), Thabang Mphafi (UJ) and Jack Benade (UCT-Ikeys). Benade scored a bunch of tries, but his team did not even make the semi-finals. Both Ngobeni and Mphafi had excellent tournament, but they did not shine when it mattered most.
According to the Varsity Cup, the Varsity Cup coaches voted for the nominated players. They could not vote for their own players.
“All eight FNB Varsity Cup head coaches were asked to nominate three players in each category and were not allowed to nominate a player from their own university. The nomination process is weighted with first position worth three points, second position two points and third position one point. The votes were then added up and the three players with the most points in each category are now being put forward to the public, whose votes will determine the winner in each of the categories.”
NWU Eagles fans can vote for Ricardo Fourie (Forward that Rocks) and Matthew Fortuin (Back that Rocks).
Votes are open until Friday, April 10.
