Varsity Cup favours attack with additional rule tweaks in 2026

The tournament's rules have been adjusted with the aim of boosting the try-scoring statistics as well as the spectacle.

- By Jon Cardinelli

For nearly two decades, the Varsity Cup has positioned itself as the world’s leading university tournament and prided itself on its attack-minded laws and innovations.

When former Springbok captain and 1995 World Cup-winner Francois Pienaar introduced the project in 2008, he spoke about emulating the bright lights, big crowds and on-field drama of the American football college championship in the US.

Eighteen years later, and the Varsity Cup continues to borrow from Gridiron in a continuing drive to improve the spectacle.

It remains to be seen whether the new “tap try” will be taken up by any of the senior tournaments in future, but rule-makers believe it will lead to an increase in tries on the Varsity Cup stage.

After a touchdown is scored in American football, the attacking team has the option of kicking the conversion (for one extra point) or trying a second touchdown (two extra points) from five yards out.

This season, the Varsity Cup will trial a similar scoring system, with the attacking team receiving two conversion options after they score a try.

The traditional rugby conversion — a successful kick for posts — will earn the attacking side two extra points, but if they opt for the tap option, they could earn five points for a “tap try”.

The catch is that the attacking team will have 120 seconds to attempt the tap try from the 22m line, in line with where the try was scored, and the attempt will end as soon as the attacking team infringes or loses possession of the ball. They cannot decide to go for a drop goal if they are running out of options.

If the attacking team is successful with the tap try, they will come away from the play with a total of 10 points, as opposed to the traditional seven for a try and its successful conversion.