Madibaz Rugby is Heading Back to the Big League

Photo Credit: Supplied/ Madibaz Sport

An unbeaten run in Gqeberha has the Madibaz celebrating promotion and dreaming even bigger for next season.

Gqeberha, South Africa (16 July 2026) – The momentum is building for the Madibaz rugby team after an outstanding week at the University Sports South Africa (Ussa) tournament earned them promotion back to the competition’s top division.

The Mandela University side lifted the Ussa B Section title in Gqeberha, booking their place in the 2027 premier division and giving themselves the perfect confidence boost ahead of next season’s Varsity Shield campaign.

It was a tournament to remember.

Madibaz kicked things off with a convincing 38-19 victory over Varsity Cup outfit Emeris, followed it up with a 33-24 win over CPUT, before putting on a dominant display to beat Sol Plaatje University 41-7 in the final.

The title was more than just another trophy. It marked another important step in the steady rise of a programme that’s spent the last few years rebuilding itself into one of the country’s most exciting university rugby teams.

With promotion secured, Madibaz will now rub shoulders with some of South Africa’s biggest university rugby names, including Maties and Tuks, when they return to the top division next year.

Head coach David Manuel believes the campaign has given the squad belief.

After falling just short in previous Varsity Shield seasons, the team now has fresh confidence that it can compete when the pressure is at its highest.

While preparations for next season are already underway, the Ussa victory has shown just how far the squad has come, with a mix of experienced leaders and emerging talent stepping up when it mattered most.