In 2011, a second tier competition called the Varsity Shield was added, increasing the number of participating universities to thirteen.

A Young Guns tournament for the Under-20 side of the Varsity Cup teams was launched in 2012.

A further expansion for the 2017 season saw three additional universities added to the Varsity Shield, totaling sixteen teams.

The Varsity Cup was dominated by Maties during the competition's formative years, with the team winning the first three tournaments in a row.

It featured the rugby teams of eight universities, with Maties, NMU Madibaz, NWU Pukke, TUT Vikings, UCT Ikey Tigers, UFS Shimlas, UJ and UP Tuks being the founding members of the competition.

At the same time, the Koshuis Rugby Championships (now known as Res Rugby) was also launched; this competition featured the university residence (koshuis) teams that won the internal league for each of the Varsity Cup universities.

CUT Ixias, UFH Blues, UKZN Impi, UWC and Wits were the expansion teams that were added to the Varsity Shield for its first season.

The Varsity Rugby competitions implemented rules to help ensure that the majority of the players are bona fide students of the relevant universities.

The Young Guns and Res Rugby competitions were restricted to full-time students only.

In addition, students needed to have passed at least 30% of their previous year's courses, and all players, even non-students, must have finished high school.

[6] 2017 saw this rule simplified: if a try is originated from the scoring team's own half, it receives two extra points.

The competition was one of the first to adopt 23-man squads to include two props, which reduced the number of uncontested scrums in matches.

In addition, each school nominates a "Player That Rocks" each week, who wears pink shorts in his next game.

Proceeds from the "Player That Rocks" initiative, along with other fund-raisers, go to a charity nominated by each university that fights domestic violence in their local area.

The competition – known as the "FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International" for sponsorship reasons – was first held in 2008.

Those four teams, along with NMMU Madibaz, NWU Eagles, TUT Vikings and UJ, were the founding members of the competition in 2015.

In addition, the seventh-placed team will take part in a promotion/relegation play-off against the Varsity Shield runner-up.

The competition – known as the "FNB Varsity Shield presented by Steinhoff International" for sponsorship reasons – was first held in 2011.

The competition – known as the "FNB Young Guns presented by Steinhoff International" for sponsorship reasons – was first held in 2012.

The most successful team in the competition to date is UP Tuks Young Guns; they won four of the first five competitions and played in the final in 2014, where they only lost to UFS Shimlas Young Guns on a kick-off after the matched finished in a 17–all draw.

[18] Varsity Cup universities has faced accusations of professionalism,[19] and breaking eligibility rules.

[22] No private universities have been allowed to compete in the tournament, leading to complaints from Varsity College.