A journalism student’s perspective on Varsity 2026

Varsity is the most important sporting event in the university calendar, when Roehampton face off against Bucks New University in 13 sporting fixtures.  As a student athlete, if you want to win one game all season, it would be this. All losses throughout the year are forgiven in return for a win at Varsity. This year, Bucks New hosted Varsity, meaning an early start and an hour coach ride to High Wycombe for all Roehampton players and spectators. Despite the journey, Roehampton’s support was excellent, equalling, if not bettering, the hosts’ crowd size in all events.  

The first event was Badminton.  Every time he won a point, Sujal Shah, the Vice-Captain of the Badminton team, was heard shouting ‘¡Vamos!’ followed by a round of applause from the spectators, as he was clearly signalling for a reaction from the crowd. To start with, three singles games were underway simultaneously, before breaking up into doubles games. Despite the visitors’ best efforts, and an early lead, Bucks claimed the first point of the day, winning Badminton 6-3. 

Next, Women’s Netball. The arena had filled out. Roehampton supporters on one side, Bucks supporters on the other. The opening centre pass was met with roars from both sides. For the next 20 minutes the atmosphere was nothing short of extraordinary, with both sets of fans taking turns to cheer on their teams with various renditions of famous football chants. Netball President Fiona Grewar later said, “Having friends in the crowd made it much more fun to play, and it motivated me to just enjoy the moment.” She added that the crowds all day made the Varsity more special, particularly to all the students who will be graduating this year, “I will never experience another Varsity with them, so I just took in what was happening and saw it as something bigger than just a Netball match.” 

While the Netball girls were playing their rivals, about a mile east, the football kicked off. The 1st and 2nd team were playing on adjacent pitches, with the separate kick-off times about 30 mins apart. The atmosphere was as electric as in the indoor games. In a magical moment that only sports could produce, both Roehampton 1s and 2s took the lead in their respective fixtures just minutes apart. The 2s took the lead in their game first, sending the Roehampton fans into raptures, which clearly inspired the 1st team. Just when the 2nd team’s game had restarted after their goal celebrations, the 1st team scored too, to reignite the jubilation of the Roehampton fans. The 2s game finished in a 1-0 victory for Roehampton, and all attention turned to the 1st team. Roey’s fans went through the list of players, serenading them each individually, singing each player’s name to the lyrics, ‘We love you Jamie, we do!’ 1st team captain Jamie Rees thanked the fans for the support. “We get so much energy; it keeps you going”. Jamie credited the fans for helping the team remain focused and hungry. “You can really feel the crowd behind you,” said Julian Restrepo of the 1st team, competing in his first Varsity.  

 

As the full-time whistle sounded for the football 1st team, who also won 1-0, Roehampton were 6-3 down across all events, with its only three wins coming from the football programme, as the 3rd team had brushed their counterparts aside in an empathic 4-1 victory on Sunday. Football president Matthew Evans, the director of football at Roehampton described his sport’s success as “the culmination of two years of hard work.”  Matthew said that the evolution in the football programme has made a big difference around the whole university. The programme has expanded to four teams, replacing the old college team format, which has turned the previously struggling football teams into a new source of pride for the university.  

Down the stretch, with four events left to play, Roehampton had to win them all to get their hands on the Roebuck trophy.  Roey were big favourites in Women’s Volleyball, as well as in both Men’s and Women’s Basketball. But Men’s Volleyball, was a tossup, and felt like the potential deciding fixture. The crowd knew its significance, and the atmosphere back in the arena was once again mesmerizing.  

 

Both teams exchanged blows early, with the first set going down to the wire. Roehampton took it 26-24. In the second set, Bucks jumped out to lead of 16-8, and was met by a fierce response from Roehampton, who claimed 8 of the next 10 points, before going on to win the second set again by the narrowest of margins, 25-23.  

 

While the men’s volleyball team were on their way to winning the 2nd set, Women’s Basketball had tipped-off a mile and a half south, Roehampton took the lead early and Bucks never caught up. The game ended 45-30 in favour of the visitors. 

  

Back down the hill, the Men’s volleyball game was not getting any less thrilling. Both sets of fans were still passionately cheering on their teams. Alan Zhang, the Welfare Secretary for men’s badminton, said the support was a “strong motivator for the whole team, helping us to not get in our own heads so much”. Bucks won the 3rd and 4th set, 25-21 and 25-22 respectively, taking the game, and the whole of Varsity 2026, down to the wire. A 5th set, first to 15, for all the marbles. The pendulum swung back and forth. 2-2, then Roey led 5-4, then Bucks went ahead 6-5, then 6-7. As the ball flew from one side to the other, so did the momentum.  Each player gave their all to try and help their school win a point. The set went to 14-12 in favour of Bucks, game point. The Roehampton players dived across the court, desperately trying to keep the ball in the air, until a well-placed hit from Bucks managed to land in the one place that no Roey player could get to. The game went to Bucks New, and with that, the Roebuck trophy stayed in Buckinghamshire.  

Although Varsity was decided, the Roehampton teams of Women’s Volleyball and Men’s Basketball had their chance to cap off a season of hard work and training with a statement victory over their rivals. As heavy favourites, both teams did just that. The Men’s basketball team claimed a 71-50 victory, and the Women’s volleyball team crushed their rivals 3-0. 

 

At the end of the evening, both sets of fans continued the friendly rivalry, as they took to the Bucks union bar, and celebrated their heroes’ efforts. Some had competed or attended their final Varsity and were passing the torch to those who hope to represent their university next year. The taste of defeat will surely motivate them to work harder for 2027, when Varsity returns to Roehampton.