51Âþ»­

It’s one of the highlights of the university calendar. Varsity will return in March 2025.

Each year, sports teams from 51Âþ»­ and the University of Leicester face off against each other across five days, with the winner of each event claiming a point for their university. The university with the most wins is crowned the varsity champion.

This year’s series will take place between Wednesday 19 and Sunday 23 March, and is set to start with the mixed equestrian horse trials*.

Leicester Tigers’ Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium will once again play host to the rugby union before the series is set to wrap up at the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Leisure Centre with the men’s and women’s basketball.

Last year, the University of Leicester came away as the deserved series winner, but 51Âþ»­ will be battling hard to take this year’s crown and snap our city rivals’ unbeaten streak.

Fiona Dick, Head of Sport at 51Âþ»­, said: “The varsity series is the pinnacle of a hard year of training and fixtures for many of 51Âþ»­'s squads.

“It is a way to showcase the tremendous effort student athletes dedicate to their competitive seasons and to celebrate the different ways students celebrate their sense of belonging to the university.

“It’s not only a fantastic opportunity for students but for friends and families to support everyone who is competing.

“Fixtures are currently under consultation with key stakeholders and will officially be released in January.”

A preliminary list of sports featured in this year’s series can be seen below:

-        Equestrian (mixed first and second teams)

-        Rowing (men and women’s first team)

-        Cross Country Relay (mixed)

-        Indoor Cricket (men’s first and second teams)

-        Futsal (men’s first and second teams)

-        Climbing (mixed)

-        Badminton (women’s first team and men’s first and second team)

-        Hockey (mixed, men and women’s first)

-        Archery (mixed)

-        Dodgeball (mixed and men’s first team)

-        Netball (women’s first and second team)

-        Cheer (mixed)

-        Volleyball (men and women’s first and second teams)

-        Football (women’s first team and men’s first, second, third and fourth teams)

-        American Football (mixed)

-        Lacrosse (men’s and women’s team)

-        Karting (mixed)

-        Running (athletics) (mixed)

-        Swimming (mixed first team)

-        Rugby Union (men and women’s first team)

-        Basketball (women’s first and men’s first and second teams)

*Fixtures have not been officially confirmed at the date of writing and may be subject to change.