The Varsity Rugby season will be in full swing on Monday with the start of the FNB Varsity Young Guns and Steinhoff Koshuisrugby competitions on top of some big Varsity Cup clashes.

The full schedule of fixtures will see ten matches played across all four national competitions in an action-packed evening of Varsity Rugby.

Defending champions UP-Tuks will travel to Bloemfontein to face the UFS-Shimlas as they look to build on last week's gritty victory over UCT at home.

UP-Tuks coach Nollis Marais has kept faith with the majority of the side that did the business against the Ikeys as the Pretoria side look to build some momentum through continuity.

"I have every confidence in the guys who played against Ikeys to become a formidable unit. They have the talent and ability to be champions. The more they play together, they more they will grow as a team with the consequent improvement in cohesion, urgency, momentum and continuity," said Marais.

Their hosts UFS-Shimlas will be looking to bounce back from their defeat at home to Maties last week, but they will have to do so without the services of Baby Bok scrumhalf Kevin Luiters who has been ruled out for a month after damaging his ankle ligaments.

In the Varsity Shield the TUT Vikings will have a tough task on their hands in Pretoria as they search for their first win of the season against CUT Ixias who are the only unbeaten side left in the competition.