2014 Varsity Shield
| 2014 Varsity Shield | |
|---|---|
| Countries | South Africa |
| Date | 27 January – 31 March 2014 |
| Champions | CUT Ixias (3rd title) |
| Runners-up | UKZN Impi |
| Promoted | CUT Ixias |
| Relegated | None |
| Matches played | 21 |
| Attendance | |
| Tries scored | 146 (average 6.952 per match) |
| Top point scorer | Duan Pretorius (88) |
| Top try scorer | Shayne Makombe (6) |
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← 2013
2015 →
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The 2014 Varsity Shield was contested from 27 January to 31 March 2014. The tournament (also known as the FNB Varsity Shield presented by Steinhoff International for sponsorship reasons) was the fourth season of the Varsity Shield, an annual second-tier inter-university rugby union competition featuring five South African universities.
The tournament was won by CUT Ixias for the second consecutive time and third time overall; they beat UKZN Impi 35–26 in the final played on 31 March 2015. CUT Ixias were automatically promoted to the top-tier Varsity Cup competition for 2015, but UKZN Impi lost their promotion play-off match against UJ to remain in the Varsity Shield for 2015. Bottom side TUT Vikings won their relegation play-off match against challengers NWU Vaal Triangle to also remain in the Varsity Shield for 2015.
The Varsity Shield used a different scoring system to the regular system. Tries were worth five points as usual, but conversions were worth three points, while penalties and drop goals were only worth two points.
There were five participating universities in the 2014 Varsity Shield. These teams played each other twice over the course of the season, once at home and once away.
Teams received four points for a win and two points for a draw. Bonus points were awarded to teams that scored four or more tries in a game, as well as to teams that lost a match by seven points or less. Teams were ranked by log points, then points difference (points scored less points conceded).
The top two teams qualified for the title play-offs. These teams played each other in the final, at the home venue of the higher-placed team.
The Varsity Shield winner was promoted to the 2015 Varsity Cup competition, while the bottom team in the Varsity Cup was relegated to the 2015 Varsity Shield. There was also a promotion/relegation match between the 7th-placed team in the Varsity Cup and the Varsity Shield runner-up at the end of the 2014 season.
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