TeamUCL Varsity Champions 2023

Watch Back

Varsity is back and we're ready to take on Kings once again. Last year, the trophy was taken from us, with Kings beating us by only 2 points. We had to let them win at some point, but our rest period is over and we're ready to take back what's rightfully ours.

29 matches, 5 days, 200 years of rivalry

Scores & Fixtures

Where to support TeamUCL

"Varsity is a chance to show how strong we are. We won the National Student Cup Finals this year so we're ready to show that to the rest of UCL."

Shelisse durity wingson - volleyball

Rivalry

Beating Kings never gets old

The UCL-KCL rivalry began nearly 200 hundred years ago when King’s College London, an Anglican college was founded - a stark contrast to UCL’s secular mantra.

The rivalry gradually moved away from religion and became more a rivalry of class, with KCL being deemed the more ‘traditional’ and elitist institution, with UCL the liberal and more progressive institution. Rag Weeks became the forum for the students to express their dislike for one another.

This melee took place during the 1934 Rag Week between UCL and KCL medics and engineers on King’s Strand campus

Soon the rivalry moved onto the field of play - the grassy pitches of Shenley and Regents park became the place where old scores could be settled.

Despite the sporting nature of our rivalry, over the years, both Kings and UCL students have kidnapped each other's mascots, holding them to ransom.

In 1989, students from Kings stole Jeremy Bentham's head and played football with it (cue a formal complaint from UCL and threats of expulsions and fines).

Mutual rivalries inevitably lead to a sense of camaraderie among peers and varsity is now a far more sporting affair.

This is a derby, and TeamUCL wears the badge with pride. Will we lift the trophy again?

You can find out more about the history of Varsity and our rivalry here.

"Varsity means everything to us. It's the biggest rivalry in London."

PREM SODHI - men's basketball

Merch

Rep TeamUCL with pride

Pick up your Varsity T...

https://studentsunionucl.org/shop/varsity-t-shirt-2023

"To us, Varsity literally just means beating Kings. Last year we won every single race so this year we're trying to keep that up, and I think we will."

Alissia blase - boat club

After party

Celebrate our inevitable win with us at Scala!

After Varsity, get ready to party...

On Monday 20 March, win or lose (but probably win) we're heading to the home of TeamUCL Sports Night, Scala, for this year's finale.

https://studentsunionucl.org/whats-on/events-activities/teamucl-varsity-after-party-scala-20-march

Varsity this year is a really exciting prospect for us because it's our first one ever. We really want to get a crowd down and make it an event for the future."

THOMAS BORTHWICK - rums rugby