Pukke could be stripped of the Varsity Cup title for fielding an ineligible player throughout the season.

Tighthead prop Bart le Roux played 614 minutes of this year's campaign as a first-year student, having represented the UKZN Impi in last year's Varsity Shield as a first-year student. The tournament rules state that a player is only allowed to play as a first-year student in one campaign.

According to Netwerk24, the Varsity Cup auditors, KPMG, cleared Le Roux to play for Pukke this season. However, the tournament organisers set a precedent when UKZN were docked 12 log points for fielding a player, hooker Kerron van Vuuren, who was previously a student at UJ. That cost the Impi a place in the promotion-relegation match against UCT.

The Varsity Cup organisers are set to make a decision regarding Pukke on Saturday. If they are found guilty, they could be stripped of the title, with Maties (who lost 7-6 in the final) being crowned champions.

Pukke would have the right to appeal a guilty verdict.