When was the first varsity match

In that first match Oxford wore dark blue jerseys the same as today, though at some stages they have worn white , and Cambridge played in pink, changing to their light blue and white in — and so the Dark and Light Blues were born. Ever since , the Varsity has been played annually and is renowned as one of the most pulsating fixtures on the rugby calendar.

During the s the Varsity Match was played at a variety of venues including the Rectory Field, the home of Blackheath F. The venue had only just opened and was considered to be the best sporting club in Europe.

There was a time when the hallowed Varsity fixture served as an unofficial trial, where selectors from the home nations eager to see how a talented youngster performed on the bigger stage, or whether a more established figure was in form at the Varsity. Over the years, more than players from either Oxford or Cambridge have gained representative international honours. A challenge was issued and somehow the arrangements were made for a game.

It was pretty ad-hoc, but we got there in the end. One by one, things fell into place for the Oxford team. At Cambridge, the women struggled to be taken seriously, and were denied access to Grange Road, and use of the Cambridge blue and white jerseys was strictly prohibited.

Nevertheless, on 10th March, , the Cambridge women made their way to Iffley Road, where they won the match The question is, why?

The match has been held every year since and was first held at Twickenham in Additionally, despite being an amateur match, it is no stranger to huge crowds and internationally renowned players, for example, all-time rugby great Jamie Roberts playing for Cambridge as recently as This is anything but an excuse for drinking and social gatherings. Both teams go through extensive preparation for the game every year, playing against other top universities and occasionally elite professional teams.

So, why does all this matter? The success of sport in universities has long been an interesting gauge of the prestige of an establishment. Varsity rugby serves a much greater purpose. Varsity gives players and fans alike an opportunity to engage in sport at the highest level for just one day.

Varsity transcends rugby, and arguably sport altogether. The sole focus of each University, irrespective of the matches leading up to that moment when they stand side by side in the tunnel for the first time, is to win The Varsity Match. There have been matches played, with Cambridge leading Oxford 64 — 60 and 14 matches drawn.

Today the match is watched by more than 25, spectators and over , television viewers. They set out to find like-minded, adventurous types who would be interested in trying something different and ran fundraising events to raise the profile of the teams. It was a last-gasp try from Sophia Pegers, the Cambridge captain that won the day, , for the Light Blues in front of a crowd of a few hundred supporters.

There have been 31 matches played, with Oxford leading Cambridge 19 — Your Email. Your Interests General tickets Hospitality. All our emails include an unsubscribe link. By submitting this form you are giving us consent to send you ticket information and exclusive offers. Hit enter to search or ESC to close. The Varsity Match History.