In 2017, as the Western Cape battled its worst drought, most club rugby shut down. Yet UCT’s Green Mile — sustained by the UCT Dam — remained playable. To keep the game alive, the UCT Rugby Executive launched an IPL-inspired internal league with player auctions, bold team identities, and creative rules. When Sikhumbuzo’s name appeared in the auction, no one realised she was female until she pitched up at training and confidently announced that she was a tighthead prop. That moment inspired the club director to take a bold step: to formally launch UCT Women’s Rugby.
So began the journey of the Ikey Swifts, later renamed the Tigresses. Within weeks, around 30 women were training almost daily, learning everything from passing and tackling to scrums and lineouts. Most had never touched a rugby ball before — yet their enthusiasm was unstoppable. When drought restrictions finally lifted, the Swifts hosted their first tri-series on the Green Mile against Maties and UWC — both with long-established women’s programmes. Against all expectations, UCT won their debut fixture, quickly gaining a reputation for being “too rough and competitive.”
The season ended with a Heritage Day Braai celebrating UCT’s transformation into a fully gender-inclusive rugby club.
Sikhumbuzo Muchenje, a Zimbabwe national player and UCT student, discovers that the university has no women’s rugby setup.
With borrowed equipment and a small group of friends, she begins informal training on the Green Mile — laying the foundation for UCT Women’s Rugby.
During the Western Cape drought, UCT Rugby launches an IPL-style internal league to keep the sport alive.
Sikhumbuzo’s entry into the player auction surprises the club and inspires leadership to officially establish a women’s team.
The Ikey Swifts are born — later renamed the Ikey Tigresses.
Around 30 women begin training regularly, many touching a rugby ball for the first time.
The team hosts its first tri-series against Maties and UWC and wins their debut fixture, gaining a reputation for intensity and rapid development.
Varsity Cup supplies a custom women’s kit, formally embedding women’s rugby into the Ikey Tigers brand, culture, and operations.
Momentum grows as new recruits strengthen the squad.
The pandemic halts rugby nationwide.
During the break, the club restructures and refines its coaching systems in preparation for a full rebuild once rugby resumes.
With all pre-COVID players having graduated, the Tigresses restart their programme entirely.
UCT embraces its role as a development hub, teaching newcomers the game from the ground up.
The team competes in Tag tournaments (often winning), intervarsity friendlies, and USSA Sevens events, regularly reaching the Shield Cup finals.
The Tigresses gain recognition as a fast-improving, development-driven programme.
The Ikey Tigresses are accepted into the Western Province Women’s League, facing some of the strongest clubs in South Africa.
Despite challenges, they improve steadily and close their debut season with a milestone win over Maties.
No more matches scheduled.
