2017 Varsity Cup
| 2017 Varsity Cup | |
|---|---|
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| Countries | South Africa |
| Date | 30 January – 17 April 2017 |
| Champions | FNB Tuks |
| Runners-up | FNB Maties |
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← 2016
2018 →
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The 2017 Varsity Cup was the 2017 edition of the Varsity Cup, an annual inter-university rugby union competition featuring university sides in South Africa. The tournament – known as the FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International for sponsorship reasons – was the tenth season of the Varsity Cup and was contested from 30 January to 17 April 2017.
There were nine participating universities in the 2017 Varsity Cup. These teams played each other once over the course of the season, either home or 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 four teams qualified for the title play-offs. In the semi-finals, the team that finished first had home advantage against the team that received fourth, while the team that finished second had home advantage against the team that finished third. The winners of these semi-finals played each other in the final, at the home venue of the higher-placed team.
The Varsity Cup tweaked the scoring system introduced in 2016; under the 2017 rules, tries could be worth five or seven points, depending on the point where the try-scoring move originated. If the try-scoring move originated in the opponents' half, it would count five points. If the move originated in the try-scoring team's own half, two bonus points were awarded and the try would be worth seven points.
The following teams took part in the 2017 Varsity Cup competition:
The final standings for the 2017 Varsity Cup were:
The top four teams qualified to the semi-finals. The first-placed team hosted the fourth-placed team and the second-placed team hosted the third-placed team.
The higher-ranked semi-final winner then hosted the lower-ranked semi-final winner in the final.
Points breakdown:
* 4 points for a win
* 2 points for a draw
* 1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less
* 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match
The table below shows each team's progression throughout the season. For each round, their cumulative points total is shown with the overall log position in brackets:
The following matches were played in the 2017 Varsity Cup:
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