Maties Rugby is more than a club. It is a community, a family, and a legacy that inspires.
This year we celebrated 150 years of Maties Rugby. We are the second-oldest rugby club in the country, and our story is filled not only with legends who became household names, but also with the many unsung heroes who gave their all to build something greater than themselves. And so, we celebrate all players, coaches, volunteers, and partners.
This year, we made our 150-milestone visible: Varsity Cup home matches were built around our legacy; our events and digital campaigns reconnected alumni and students; and branding upgrades at Danie Craven and beyond reminded everyone of our proud history.
None of this would have been possible without Stellenbosch University. To our colleagues in the high-performance unit, facilities management, finance, marketing, communications, and events — thank you for your partnership and support.
To all the volunteers and alumni who helped with time, connections or supporting our teams we value you.
To our sponsors — Mitchum, Adam Piper, Hi-Tec, Snapp, WebTickets, SAB, PenBev, Eikestad, and others — your support is more than financial. You help us bring fans closer to the game and live out our legacy.
All the students, friends, family members and other Maties Rugby supporters your support in the stands make our teams aim higher and play harder.
And to our own Maties Rugby staff: a small, dedicated team that carries a heavy load, often behind the scenes, unseen but never unnoticed – gratitude!
We have so much to celebrate this year, from renovations to the Danie Craven Stadium and hosting Varsity Cup, USSA Sevens and a glittering 150 Legacy Gala Dinner, to fielding new national players and growing our social media presence that now boasts 57 000 followers and garners 20 million impressions!
What the events of this year have done is fuelled the fire within the stewards of this club to ensure that this legacy is fine-tuned for future growth, future wins and new legends to emerge. Our core priorities are clear: consolidate and elevate our players’ pathways; deepen stakeholder engagement and increase reach; and build systems, staff and governance to deliver.
Annual Highlights
Representation
In 2025, 1 098 students were part of Maties Rugby.
- 825 played Campus Rugby, the heartbeat of our student game.
- 273 represented us in 11 competitive teams.
On the provincial and national stage
- 15 WP U21, 5 WP U19, 5 Currie Cup players, 1 Stormer, and 1 WP Women’s representative.
- 4 SA U20s, including the captain.
- And 1 new Springbok, taking our tally to 187 Maties who have worn the green and gold.
Beyond current squads
- Over 50 former Maties are playing professionally worldwide.
- We have 8 current Springboks and a core group anchoring the Stormers.
- Alumni playing across Ireland, Scotland, England, France, Japan, USA, and Romania.
- And not only players — Aimee Barrett-Theron is now a World Rugby Test Referee.
On-Field Performance
On the field it was a year of highs and lessons:
- Varsity Cup Men: 1st on the log, finalists.
- Varsity Cup Women: Champions.
- USSA Men: 2nd place.
- WP Leagues: strong results across our 2nd, 3rd, Junior Maties, and Markotters sides.
- Across the club: 110 matches, 76 wins, a 69% win-rate.
We also faced tough lessons in the Western Province League, where our First Team’s performance fell short of our ambitions. These moments matter as much as our wins — they push us to re-evaluate, refine and build stronger for what comes next.
Events & Hosting
- We hosted over 150 matches.
- Varsity Cup at Danie Craven: three sell-outs, average 74% stadium capacity.
- Campus Rugby Finals drew 3 000, derby day peaked at 4 500.
- And we hosted the USSA Sevens, receiving excellent feedback from universities and sponsors.
Commercial Growth
- Overall income is up 18% year-on-year.
- Sponsorships and donations are up 21%.
- The Supporters Club grew by 17%, from 406 to 473 members.
150 years of Maties Rugby has reminded us of who we are — and where we’re going. We honour the legends who built this legacy, and we embrace the responsibility to make it stronger for the generations to come.
Here’s to the next chapter of our legacy — stronger, sharper, together.
Drikus Hancke
Head of Maties Rugby