A varsity match is a sporting fixture between two university rivals. It is most commonly used to describe meetings between Cambridge University and Oxford University. The Scottish Varsity rugby match between the University of St Andrews and the University of Edinburgh at Murrayfield stadium claims to be the oldest recurring Varsity match in the world, having been played since the 1860s. However, the Varsity Match in Cricket between Oxford and Cambridge predates it, having first been played in 1827.
Varsity in England
By far the country's longest-running series of varsity matches is played between the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford with some rivalries airing live on national television. Unlike in North America, the broadcast of university sport is not commonplace.
In recent years, city and regional sporting rivalries have developed.
University of Oxford v. University of Cambridge
The Boat Race and Women's Boat Race - Rowing
Henley Boat Races - Lightweight Rowing
The Varsity Match - Rugby Union
Rugby League Varsity Match - Rugby League
The University Hockey Match - Field Hockey
The Truelove Bowl - Amateur Boxing
The Varsity Swimming Match - Swimming
The Varsity Water Polo Match - Water Polo
The Varsity Polo Match - Polo
The University Golf Match - Golf
The Varsity Yacht Race - Yachting
The University Match - Cricket
The Lawn Tennis Varsity Match - Lawn Tennis
Ice Hockey Varsity Match - Ice Hockey
Varsity blind wine tasting match - Blind Wine Tasting
The Varsity Quiz Match - Buzzer Quiz
Varsity Trip - Ski Racing
Varsity Gliding Competition - Gliding
The Chancellors' - Fullbore target rifle
The Humphry - Fullbore match rifle
The Rose Bowl - Archery
The Aussie Rules Varsity Match - Australian Rules Football (2013 was the 93rd annual varsity match)
Handball Varsity Match - Handball
King's College London v. University College London
The London Varsity - Rugby
King's College London v. King's College London School of Medicine
The Macadam Cup - Swimming gala, Water polo, Badminton, Squash, Hockey (men and women), Mixed fencing, Mixed tennis, Ultimate frisbee, Rugby (men and women), Netball, Lacrosse, Football (men and women) and Darts
University of West London v. University of Westminster
West London Varsity: Rugby, Football, Basketball, Netball and Cricket.
Imperial College London v. Imperial College School of Medicine
Varsity - Rugby, Hockey, Netball, Football, Lacrosse, Basketball, Tennis
Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry v. Queen Mary, University of London
The Merger Cup - rugby, football, hockey, rowing, tennis, badminton, netball, squash, and basketball
Goldsmiths, University of London v. University of the Arts London
The Arts Cup - Basketball, Football, Hockey, Netball and Rugby
Brunel University v. St Mary's University College, Twickenham
West London Varsity
University of East London v. Middlesex University
University of London Colleges
Allom Cup - Rowing
City, University of London vs. Kingston University London
University of Nottingham v. Nottingham Trent University
Varsity Series (2004–present)
University of Bristol v. University of the West of England
Established in 1995, the Bristol Boat Race is the country's second oldest varsity boat race after the Oxbridge event.
University of Leeds v. Leeds Beckett University
Leeds Varsity
University of Sheffield v. Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Varsity (1996-Present) Sheffield Hallam University lead the series 10-9, whilst two competitions have ended as draws.
University of York v. York St. John University
White Rose Varsity (until 2011)
University of Manchester v. Manchester Metropolitan University
University of Manchester v. University of Salford
The Two Cities Rugby League Challenge
The Two Cities Boat Race - Rowing
University of Southampton v. Southampton Solent University
University of Southampton v. University of Portsmouth
De Montfort University v. University of Leicester
Varsity of Leicester
University of Kent v. Canterbury Christ Church University
University of Plymouth v. University of St Mark & St John
University of Brighton v. University of Sussex
Newcastle University v. Northumbria University
The Stan Calvert Cup
Newcastle University v. Durham University
The Boat Race of the North - Rowing
University of Sunderland v. University of Teesside
University of Liverpool v. Liverpool John Moores University
Edge Hill University v. University of Central Lancashire
University of Chester v. Manchester Metropolitan University
Yorkshire and the Humber
University of Hull v. University of York
The White Rose Varsity (contested until 2011 between York and York St John University) was a short-lived series established in 2011. It was discontinued in 2013 due to disagreements between the two universities.
University of Lincoln v. University of Hull
The Humber Games were inaugurated in 2014 after Hull's annual series with York ended in acrimony in 2013.
York St. John University v. University of Teesside v. University of Hull
The Tri-Varsity (ended 2008)
University of Bradford v. University of Huddersfield
The University of Sheffield v. Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Varsity (1996-Present) Sheffield Hallam University lead the series 10-9, whilst two competitions have ended as draws.
Midlands
University of Birmingham v. University of Warwick
University of Wolverhampton v. Birmingham City University
Varsity Boat Race
University of Birmingham v. Loughborough University
University of Warwick v. Coventry University
Keele University v. Staffordshire University (2007–present)
University of Leicester v. De Montfort University
Aston University v. Birmingham City University
University of Northampton v. Derby University
University of East Anglia v. University of Essex
University of Southampton v. University of Portsmouth
Varsity Cup
University of Kingston v. University of Surrey
University of Reading v. Oxford Brookes University
University of Hertfordshire v. University of Bedfordshire
University of Roehampton v. Buckinghamshire New University
University of Sussex v. University of Brighton
Varsity Cup
University of Surrey v. Royal Holloway, University of London, starting 2017
Bradford University v. King's College London: the Tolstoy Cup
Harper Adams University v. Royal Agricultural University
Bath Spa University v. University of Winchester
The Charles Cup'
University of Worcester v. University of Gloucestershire
University of Bristol v. University of West England
University of Bath v. University of Exeter
Northern England
University of Leeds v. University of Manchester v. University of Liverpool
The Christie Cup
University of York v. Lancaster University
The Roses Tournament
Durham University v. University of York
College Varsity - started 2014 as a replacement for the White Rose Varsity
James – Collingwood tournament annually between James College, York and Collingwood College, Durham since 2009.
Josephine Butler – Langwith varsity: Annual home-and-away (York in the autumn, Durham in the summer) tournaments between Josephine Butler College, Durham and Langwith College, York held some 2013.
Royal School of Mines v. Camborne School of Mines
The Bottle Match
Durham University v. University of Loughborough
BUCS Varsity
Intramural Varsity (Durham colleges v Loughborough intramural sports)
Varsity in Ireland
University College Dublin v. Trinity College Dublin
Colours Boat Races
Varsity in Scotland
University of Aberdeen v. Robert Gordon University
Granite City Challenge
Aberdeen Universities Boat Race - Rowing
University of Abertay Dundee v. University of Dundee
The Tay Games Varsity Challenge
Heriot-Watt University v. University of Edinburgh
Varsity Quaich - Men’s Football, Men’s and Women’s Hockey, Men’s Rugby and Rowing
University of Edinburgh v. University of St Andrews
The Scottish Varsity - Rugby
University of Edinburgh v. Glasgow University
The Scottish Boat Race - Rowing
University of the West of Scotland v. Edinburgh Napier University
East vs West Varsity - Men's American Football, Mixed Badminton, Men's Basketball, Men's and Women's Hockey, Men's Rugby
University of the West of Scotland v. Scottish Rural College v. Ayrshire College
West Coast Varsity
Cardiff University v. Swansea University
Welsh Varsity - Rugby
Varsity Shield
The Welsh Boat Race - Rowing
Aberystwyth University v. Bangor University
Aberystwyth-Bangor Varsity
