The Ikey Tigers are a South African rugby union team from the University of Cape Town in the Western Cape who compete in the FNB Varsity Cup.

History

The "Ikey" nickname originated in the 1910s as an antisemitic epithet applied to UCT students by the students of Stellenbosch University, because of the supposed large number of Jewish students at UCT.[2]

Since the inception of the FNB Varsity Cup, the Ikey Tigers have been one of the strongest competitors, winning the title three times, in 2011, 2014 and 2025, and finishing runners up five times.

Stadium

The rugby fields at UCT

The Ikey Tigers play their home fixtures on the Groote Schuur Rugby Field which is adjacent to the university campus. The fields are known commonly by UCT students as The Green Mile. Since the inception of the Varsity Cup, the field has not met the required standards for night fixtures which has resulted in UCT playing two "home" finals away, namely in 2008 when they had to travel to Stellenbosch to play Maties and in 2011 when they had to travel to Pretoria to play Tuks. On 7 March 2011 the UCT rugby club received a $1 million donation from Neville Isdell which allowed them to dust off their longtime plans to build a proper rugby stadium.[3]

Rivalries

The Ikey Tigers main rivalry is with Stellenbosch University's Maties. The rivalry is fuelled by the relative geographical proximity of the two universities, and their status as the two top universities in the Western Cape.

Results:

Date Home team Score Away team Reference
20 March 2008UCT38–34Maties[4]
7 April 2008Maties16–10UCT[5]
2 February 2009UCT10–12Maties[6]
8 March 2010Maties23–17UCT[7]
29 March 2010Maties17–14UCT[8]
7 March 2011UCT16–37Maties[9]
12 March 2012Maties45–5UCT[10]
4 March 2013UCT15–37Maties[11]
10 February 2014Maties16–33UCT[12]
24 March 2014UCT20–8Maties[13]

Season standings

Ikey Tigers Varsity Cup Final Standings
Season Position P W D L PF PA PD BP Pts Play-off Result
20082nd7601260149+111731Losing finalists
20091st7502177121+56525Losing semi-finalists
20102nd7511223139+84325Losing finalists
20112nd7502213134+79323Champions
20127th7115164195–3139Won relegation play-off
20137th7124159198–39311
20142nd7502186141+45424Champions
20153rd7412258157+101422Losing semi-finalists
20168th7007103324–22133Won relegation play-off
20178th8206140248−10819
20186th8404182181+1521
20195th8314227262−35620
20212nd9810174741Losing finalists
20223rd8Losing semi-finalists
20232nd9Losing finalists[14]
20242nd9Losing finalists[15]
20253rd9Champions

Individual records

  • Tries (Season): Mathew Turner (9 tries in 2008); Therlow Pietersen (7 tries in 2011); Therlow Pietersen (6 tries in 2009)
  • Tries (Career): Therlow Pietersen (15 in 2009–11); Marcello Sampson (14 in 2008–10); Nyasha Tarusenga (14 in 2015–19); Ntokozo Makhaza (14 in 2022–2024)
  • Most Points (Season): Demetri Catrakilis (136 in 2011)
  • Most Points (Career): Ntokozo Makhaza (267 in 2024–2025)

Player awards

  • 2008 Top Try Scorer – Mathew Turner (9 tries)
  • 2009 Top Try Scorer – Therlow Pietersen (6 tries)
  • 2009 Back That Rocks – Therlow Pietersen
  • 2011 Top Try Scorer – Therlow Pietersen (7 tries)
  • 2011 Top Points Scorer – Demetri Catrakilis (136 points)
  • 2014 Forward That Rocks – Shaun McDonald
  • 2024 Overall Player That Rocks – Ntokozo Makhaza

Notable players and coaches

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Varsity Cup Fixtures" (PDF). uct.ac.za. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
  2. ↑ Swanson, Felicity (2007). "'Die SACS kom terug': intervarsity rugby, masculinity and white identity at the University of Cape Town, 1960s-1970s". In Field, Sean; et al. (eds.). Imagining the City: Memories and Cultures in Cape Town (PDF). Cape Town: HSRC Press. p. 210. ISBN 978-0-7969-2179-6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 April 2007. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  3. ↑ "Million-dollar boost for UCT rugby stadium". www.news.uct.ac.za. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  4. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – UCT 38–34 Maties". South African Rugby Union. 20 March 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  5. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – UCT 10–16 Maties". South African Rugby Union. 7 April 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  6. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – UCT 10–12 Maties". South African Rugby Union. 2 February 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  7. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Maties 23–17 UCT". South African Rugby Union. 8 March 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  8. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Maties 17–14 UCT". South African Rugby Union. 29 March 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  9. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – UCT 16–37 Maties". South African Rugby Union. 7 March 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  10. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Maties 45–5 UCT". South African Rugby Union. 12 March 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  11. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB UCT 15–37 FNB Maties". South African Rugby Union. 4 March 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  12. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB MATIES 16–33 FNB UCT 1ST XV". South African Rugby Union. 10 February 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  13. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB UCT 1ST XV 20–8 FNB MATIES". South African Rugby Union. 24 March 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  14. ↑ Bodlani, Lilitha (17 April 2023). "Eagles crowned 2023 FNB Varsity Cup champions". Varsity Cup. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  15. ↑ Bodlani, Lilitha (22 April 2024). "Shimlas sink Ikeys in dramatic fashion to be crowned 2024 Varsity Cup champions". Varsity Cup. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikey_Tigers