THE RUGBY

The Inaugural Welsh Varsity Match was played in 1997 in the Welsh Capital and home of Cardiff Rugby Football Club, Cardiff Arms Park. The game was played by the two Welsh Premier Universities; Cardiff and Swansea and the highly successful “Varsity” model was adopted with all proceeds from the event going to Oxfam.

In the early years the Welsh Varsity Match was held alternatively at Cardiff Arms Park and St Helens, the home of Swansea Rugby Club. In 2003 and until 2007 the game was held at the neutral ground of the Brewery field in Bridgend.

Historically Swansea University enjoy the tag of perennial favourites at the Welsh Varsity Match winning to date; thirteen Varsities, losing seven times and drawing once.

Swansea University have regularly enjoyed the ability to select from a vast pool of very talented players such as Welsh nationals Alun Wynn Jones, Ritchie Pugh and Dwayne Peel. 2007 saw Swansea field no less than 11 FIRA Internationals at varying ages resulting in a win at Cardiff Arms Park.

Cardiff have enjoyed success in recent years with the introduction of a Head of Rugby at Cardiff University. For the first time in the club’s history, Cardiff won back to back in 2008 and 2009, going on to achieve further wins in 2012 and taking the title on Swansea’s home turf in 2015.

Many Cardiff and Swansea University students have gone on to represent and gain contracts with many semi professional and professional clubs on the back of great performances in the Welsh Varsity Match.

In 2007 both Universities agreed to award Caps for all students who take the field and play in Varsity. This has added an extra edge to what has already proved to be the most competitive game of the year for both squads.