Weekend Varsity Match after century at Twickenham
The Varsity Match at Twickenham Stadium in April gives rugby fans the first chance in 75 years to watch a weekend Oxford University v Cambridge University game and join centenary celebrations.
The 100th anniversary of the first Varsity Match at the Home of England Rugby on Saturday, 2 April, comes a century after the first in West London, on 8 December, 1921, when Oxford won 11-5. The 2020 and 2021 games were cancelled due to covid.
The very first Varsity Match was, however, one year after the formation of the RFU. Played on 10 February, 1872, when Cambridge travelled to Oxford, who wore their traditional dark blue jerseys, while Cambridge played in pink.
Oxford University celebrated their 150th anniversary in 2019, while arch-rivals Cambridge University are currently marking theirs. The Light Blues lead in the series, although they were beaten last time out in July, 2021, when Oxford won 34-7 at Welford Road, Leicester.
Honours are remarkably even and both squads will be determined to win - the gap between them over the past 149 years being just three. The Cambridge team has 64 wins, Oxford 61 and 14 matches have been drawn.
To mark their 150th anniversary, Cambridge University has published its first official rugby history ‘150 Years of Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club’ available via curufc.com. Oxford has done the same and ‘150 Years of Oxford University RFC’ is available at www.therugbyjournal.com/shop
Tickets include women’s match
Much has changed over 150 years, not least the growth of the women’s game and tickets for the Varsity Match on Saturday, 2 April, give fans the chance to watch the women’s match before the men’s. Ticket details can be found at thevarsitymatches.com
