Maties, who claimed a hat-trick of FNB Varsity Cup titles earlier this year, will represent WP at the Club Champs after holding off newly-promoted False Bay to finish top of the Super League A after the first round.

This year Maties will be joined at the event by fierce local rivals Hamilton after organisers decided to allow the previous year’s champion the right to defend their title – regardless of whether or not they won their respective league.

In other provincial action, perennial Free State champions Shimlas have once again qualified for the Club Champs after defeating Irawas – their second XV – in the final of the Bloemfontein Stadsbeker.

The KZN Moor Cup Competition has resumed after a lengthy break due to the FIFA World Cup and looks set to be a two-horse race between champions College Rovers and traditional foes Durban Collegians.

In the Golden Lions’ Pirates Grand Challenge league, Varsity Cup sides UJ and NWU-Pukke lead the way with defending champions Pirates trailing in sixth position with only a handful of matches remaining.

The same applies in the Blue Bulls’ Carlton League, where title-holders Police are in fifth place behind front-runners Tukkies, which they beat in last year’s final.