Day One
Kicking off this year’s fun will be the Varsity colour run, involving the full student community! It involves a 3km route, getting covered in dye and colourful powders along the way. This is a perfect way to create a lovely sense of community spirit before launching into the head-to-head sports events of the week. The Colour Run was incredibly successful last year, proving great fun for everyone involved, and this year we will have three heats taking off on Monday 28 April at 5:30pm-6:30pm from LUU precinct!
This isn’t all! On Monday 28 April, the evening features a triple header nail-biting action. This includes Futsal, Netball and Korfball, taking place at Leeds Beckett Headingley Campus. These events will be absolutely captivating, and will begin the tournament with tons of excitement and competition!
Day Two
Tuesday 29 April will commence with Basketball at 5pm in The Edge, and Hockey at Sports Park Weetwood. There are men’s and women’s divisions in each of these sports, and each are expected to be absolutely thrilling. So, wear your team colours and cheer on your phenomenal teams!
Day Three
The final day of the tournament will be the absolutely huge Wednesday 30 April, featuring all-day sports such as Gymnastics, Water Polo and, most notably, Rugby. The Rugby final is the biggest sporting event of the year, and we are almost certain this will sell out. Make sure to get your tickets as soon as possible to avoid disappointment! Many societies rush to order bulk tickets for this event, enjoying the Rugby final surrounded by friends and fun. The Rugby event includes the women’s and men’s division games, as well as the presentation of the esteemed Varsity trophy, given to the winner of this year’s games.
However, Varsity does not end there. The final Gryphons vs Bears event will take place at the end of the week on Sunday 4 May at Planet Ice! The two Ice Hockey teams will be going head-to-head to create the most incredible end to the week of Varsity. The Men’s Ice Hockey club defines the atmosphere of the event as ‘electrifying and high-paced’, as it really isn’t one to miss!
During Varsity, it is important not to forget the communities outside of our own student circles. The Pledge of Varsity is our promise to impact our surrounding communities as little as possible, and shows our commitment to passion, pride and friendship to not only one another, but the people around your community. Read our full Pledge on the Varsity webpage, linked below.
The sponsor of Varsity for the last five years has been the wonderful ‘Pickard Properties.’ They have a strong and longstanding commitment to supporting university sports from both teams, and their director states that ‘Varsity 2025 is shaping up to be a thrilling and competitive three days of sport, filled with passionate performances and unforgettable moments for everyone involved.’
Varsity is absolutely central to the student calendar, and is completely beloved by students and staff all over campus. The sense of community and fun it creates is unmatched, bringing the whole student body together to celebrate some of our most incredible athletes. Get your tickets now to make sure you don’t miss out!
