Ikeys are champions of the world

Ikeys are champions of the world

The UCT Ikey Tigers have beaten the University of Bordeaux in the final of the World University Rugby Invitational Tournament in Bordeax, thus making sure that the trophy remains in Cape Town for another four years.

After winning the inaugural tournament in 2015, hosted by the University of Oxford in England, then defending their title in 2019 at the University of Waseda in Japan, the Ikey Tigers found themselves in a truly unique position to make it three on the bounce in Bordeaux.

Having suffered their first ever loss in the tournament to the hosts in the pool stages, the final offered up a chance to settle the score. And while the 17-20 scoreline might suggest a relatively close encounter, this was a game bossed by the men in blue and white. The pack offered up the tries, one for Troy Fisher off the back of powerful maul, the other for Jason Macleod-Smith off the back of a monstrous scrum. Tournament top scorer, Ntokozo Makhaza, made no mistake with the conversions, and added two penalties for good measure.

The World University Rugby Invitational Tournament (WURIT) is a bit of a mouthful, and also something that has tended to slide beneath the radar, despite this being the third edition. It’s an international rugby tournament organised every four years in the country hosting the Rugby World Cup, that looks to bring together teams from the world’s top universities.

The 2023 Ikeys squad, coached by Rob Fleck, and skippered by Luthando Woji, arrived in Bordeaux late on Monday the 18th of September, and were set the task of taking on both the Combined New Zealand Universities and University of British Columbia sides on Thursday the 21st.

 

 

The unique tournament format sees teams playing normal 15 a side rugby in games consisting of two, 20-minute halves, with sides then playing two games a day on the first two match days of the tournament. Rolling subs are allowed throughout the games.

All players at the tournament have to be full time students, as per the Varsity Cup rules, which suits UCT nicely. Some of the attending universities sport mostly open sides in their leagues, though, hence them needing to put together combined university sides made up of just students.

The Ikey Tigers edged out the Kiwis by three points in game one – perhaps a nice wake up – and then comfortable beat the Canadians later in the day. On Day 2 of the tournament, the Ikeys suffered their first ever WURIT loss at the hands of hosts, Bordeaux, before bouncing back to hammer the combined team from the USA.

Having already secured a spot in the semi-finals, the men in blue and white seemed to take their foot off the gas in another reverse on Day 3, this time in their final pool game against the Sydney-siders, who ironically, still missed out on the semis.

It was back to business for the Ikeys in their semi-final against the Kiwis, although it took a yeoman defensive effort in the last few minutes to keep the men in black out. UCT held on to win 19-14 with tries from open side Sipho Dyonase, and fullback Makhaza (2), who went on to convert both his tries.

Ikey results and scorers at WURIT 2023:

DAY 1 – 21 September

Ikeys 16-13 New Zealand (Tries: Makhaza, Fredericks. Pen: Makhaza (2))

Ikeys 24-7 British Columbia (Tries: Davis (2), Ndudula, Kruger. Con: Makhaza, Vermeulen)

DAY 2 – 23 September

Ikeys 13-16 Bordeaux (Tries: Vermeulen, Nel. Pen: Vermeulen)

Ikeys 43-7 USA All Stars (Tries: Roy, Hayes, M Macleod-Smith, Nel, Davis (2), Vermeulen. Con: Vermeulen (4))

DAY 3 – 25 September

Ikeys 5-10 Sydney (Try: Castle)

Semi-final – 26 September

Ikeys 19-14 New Zealand (Tries: Dyonase, Makhaza (2). Con: Makhaza (2))

Final – 28 September

Ikeys 20-17 Bordeaux (Tries: Fisher, J Macleod-Smith Pen: Makhaza (2) Con: Makhaza (2))

Ikeys 2024 squad:

Backs: Alex Vermeulen, Chris Roy, David Hayes, Hlumelo Ndudula, Josh Boulle, Kyle Lamb, Lezane Davis, Luca de Leo, Lyle Hendricks, Ntokozo Makhaza, Rethabile Louw, Rihaz Fredericks, Tom Nel

Forwards: Adam de Waal, Alex Castle, Bryan le Roux, Luthando Woji, Jovan Bekker, Jac van der Walt, Johan van Rhyn, JL de Lange, Jason Macleod-Smith, Mika Schubert, Matthew Macleod-Smith, Matthew Beckett, Mhleli Khuzwayo, Reynhardt Crous, Sipho Dyonase, Taariq Kruger, Troy Fisher

Management: Rob Fleck, Mike van Rheede, Piet Cilliers, Raun Billett

Ikeys into University RWC final

After winning the inaugural tournament in 2015, hosted by the University of Oxford in England, then defending their title in 2019 at the University of Waseda in Japan, the Ikey Tigers now find themselves in the 2023 WURIT final, hosted by the University of Bordeaux.

The World University Rugby Invitational Tournament (WURIT) is a bit of a mouthful, and also something that has tended to slide beneath the radar, despite this being the third edition. It’s an international rugby tournament organised every four years in the country hosting the Rugby World Cup, that looks to bring together teams from the world’s top universities.

The 2023 Ikeys squad, coached by Rob Fleck, and skippered by Luthando Woji, arrived in Bordeaux late on Monday the 18th of September, and were set the task of taking on both the Combined New Zealand Universities and University of British Columbia sides on Thursday the 21st.

The unique tournament format sees teams playing normal 15 a side rugby in games consisting of two, 20-minute halves, with sides then playing two games a day on the first two match days of the tournament. Rolling subs are allowed throughout the games.

All players at the tournament have to be full time students, as per the Varsity Cup rules, which suits UCT nicely. Some of the attending universities sport mostly open sides in their leagues, though, hence them needing to put together combined university sides made up of just students.

The Ikey Tigers edged out the Kiwis by three points in game one – perhaps a nice wake up – and then comfortable beat the Canadians later in the day. On Day 2 of the tournament, the Ikeys suffered their first ever WURIT loss at the hands of hosts, Bordeaux, before bouncing back to hammer the combined team from the USA.

Having already secured a spot in the semi-finals, the men in blue and white seemed to take their foot off the gas in another reverse on Day 3, this time in their final pool game against the Sydney-siders, who ironically, still missed out on the semis.

It was back to business for the Ikeys in their semi-final against the Kiwis, although it took a yeoman defensive effort in the last few minutes to keep the men in black out. UCT held on to win 19-14 with tries from open side Sipho Dyonase, and fullback Ntokozo Makhaza (2), who went on to convert both his tries.

The Ikeys now take on hosts Bordeaux in the final on Thursday at 17h00, and will be looking to make good on the reverse suffered in the pool games.

The match will be live streamed on the tournament YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ3KTvfhAtWbyk7SpdKWIbgH4XY2qxj3U

Ikey results thus far:

DAY 1 – 21 September

Ikeys 16-13 New Zealand (Tries: Makhaza, Fredericks. Pen: Makhaza (2))

Ikeys 24-7 British Columbia (Tries: Davis (2), Ndudula, Kruger. Con: Makhaza, Vermeulen)

DAY 2 – 23 September

Ikeys 13-16 Bordeaux (Tries: Vermeulen, Nel. Pen: Vermeulen)

Ikeys 43-7 USA All Stars (Tries: Roy, Hayes, M Macleod-Smith, Nel, Davis (2), Vermeulen. Con: Vermeulen (4))

DAY 3 – 25 September

Ikeys 5-10 Sydney (Try: Castle)

Semi-final – 26 September

Ikeys 19-14 New Zealand (Tries: Dyonase, Makhaza (2). Con: Makhaza (2))

Final – 28 September

Ikeys vs Bordeaux (17h00)

Ikeys 2024 squad:

Backs: Alex Vermeulen, Chris Roy, David Hayes, Hlumelo Ndudula, Josh Boulle, Kyle Lamb, Lezane Davis, Luca de Leo, Lyle Hendricks, Ntokozo Makhaza, Rethabile Louw, Rihaz Fredericks, Tom Nel

Forwards: Adam de Waal, Alex Castle, Bryan le Roux, Luthando Woji, Jovan Bekker, Jac van der Walt, Johan van Rhyn, JL de Lange, Jason Macleod-Smith, Mika Schubert, Matthew Macleod-Smith, Matthew Beckett, Mhleli Khuzwayo, Reynhardt Crous, Sipho Dyonase, Taariq Kruger, Troy fisher

Management: Rob Fleck, Mike van Rheede, Piet Cilliers, Raun Billett

France Tour Raffle – we have a winner! Plus tour info

Thank you to all supporters, player parents, friends of the club for backing the raffle campaign to help the Ikeys go to France. The winner of an amazing Botswana safari courtesy of our friends at Natural Selection Travel is former Ikeys lock (and World University Rugby Championship winner) James Kilroe – congratulations!

The team leaves for Bordeaux on Sunday 17th with Tour Coach Robbie Fleck in charge.
The Ikey Tigers are kitted out with superb Sealand Travel kit via Ikeys alumn Adrian Hewlett .

DAY 1 – THURSDAY 21 sept.

Match 1 > University of Cape Town / New Zealand Universities
Match 2 > British Columbia / Bordeaux
Match 3 > National Colegiate Rugby / Sydney
Match 4 > Cape Town / British Columbia
Match 5 > New Zealand / National Colegiate Rugby
Match 6 > Bordeaux / Sydney

DAY 2 – SATURDAY 23 sept.

Match 7 > University of Cape Town / Bordeaux University
Math 8 > New Zealand / Sydney
Match 9 > British Columbia / National Colegiate Rugby
Match 10 > New Zealand / Bordeaux
Match 11 > University of Cape Town / Atlantic Coast All Star (USA)
Match 12 > British Columbia / Sydney

DAY 3 – MONDAY 25 sept.

Match 13 > University of Cape Town / Sydney University
Match 14 > Bordeaux / National Collegiate Rugby
Match 15 > New Zealand / British Columbia

Semi finals –  TUESDAY 26 sept.

1st Semi-final : 1st vs 4th
2nd Semi-final : 2nd vs 3rd

Final – THURSDAY 28 Sept.

Match for 5th place
Semi-finals losers
Semi-finals winners