Varsity Cup is the sporting event of the year here at the University of Portsmouth. Varsity sees Team University of Portsmouth take on the University of Southampton's sports clubs in as many sports as possible.
The rivalry between the two universities makes for an extremely exciting, action packed weekend of sport. Spectators are welcome to get behind our clubs and cheer them on.
The location of Varsity alternates each year between Portsmouth and Southampton. As we were the away team for Varsity 2025, we will be hosting in 2026.
As well as the main Varsity Cup vs Southampton, we also compete against the Royal Navy with our development teams. Fixtures against the Royal Navy don't count towards the main Varsity Cup scoring.
Varsity tickets are available now (online only).
- Full weekend ticket: £12
- Spectator-only, single-day wristbands will be available from Ravelin Sports Centre in the week of the event. These tickets are for friends and family who only wish to spectate on one day of Varsity.
- Full weekend ticket and T-Shirt bundle: £22 - Bundle sale is now closed
- The T-shirt is an optional extra and doesn't give access to Varsity fixtures. Your ticket is your entry to all fixtures and facilities.
- Tickets and T-Shirts will be ready to collect from Ravelin Sports Centre from Monday 20 April.
Varsity tickets are currently available through our Online Store. At a later date, sales will move exclusively to Ravelin Sports Centre reception.
What's included with your Varsity ticket?
£12 main sale tickets include:
- Entry to all Varsity fixtures, including Rugby opener and Navy Varsity
- Entry to Varsity Village
We also have a limited edition Varsity 2026 T-shirt available in the ticket and T-shirt bundle. Please note that the T-Shirt is separate from the tickets and does not give you access to fixtures.
Varsity Wristbands
Your Varsity wristband, included in the main ticket, will act as your entry to the event, so make sure you either wear it or bring it with you. Wristbands will be available for collection from Ravelin Sports Centre reception during the main week of Varsity. Make sure you have your ticket confirmation with you when you come to collect your wristband.
Varsity 2026 Key Dates
- Wednesday 22 April: Navy Varsity
- Wednesday 6 May: Men's and Women's Rugby 1st Teams (Havant Rugby Club)
- Wednesday 6 May: Men's and Women's Futsal (Ravelin Sports Centre)
- Wednesday 6 May: Darts (St. Paul's Sports Hall)
- Friday 8 May: Netball Development Teams (Langstone)
- Friday 8 May: Ultimate Frisbee (Ravelin Sports Centre)
- Saturday 9 May: Varsity Day One
- Sunday 10 May: Varsity Day Two
Varsity Fixtures
Find all of the Navy Varsity fixtures and scores on our events page. There is a separate cup for the Navy Varsity fixtures, and they don't count towards the main Varsity scoring.
| Fixture | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Rugby M1 | Havant Rugby Club | 1.30pm - 3.30pm |
| Rugby W1 | Havant Rugby Club | 4.00pm - 6.00pm |
| Equestrian Mix 1 | Gleneagles Riding School | 9.00am - 1.00pm |
| Equestrian Mix 2 | Gleneagles Riding School | 9.00am - 1.00pm |
| Women's Futsal 1 | Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 1 | 7.00pm - 9.00pm |
| Men's Futsal 3 | Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 1 | 1.00pm - 3.00pm |
| Men's Futsal 2 | Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 1 | 3.00pm - 5.00pm |
| Men's Futsal 1 | Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 1 | 5.00pm - 7.00pm |
| Sailing - Team Racing | Spinnaker Sailing Club | 10.00am - 3.00pm |
| Darts | St. Paul's Sports Centre | 1.00pm - 4.00pm |
| Fixture | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Netball (Purples) | MUGA - Langstone Sports Ground | 3.30pm - 5.00pm |
| Netball Dev 1 | MUGA - Langstone Sports Ground | 2.00pm - 3.30pm |
| Netball Dev 2 | MUGA - Langstone Sports Ground | 12.30pm - 2.00pm |
| Ultimate Frisbee Indoor Mix 1 | Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 2 | 1.00pm - 3.00pm |
| Golf Mix 1 | Lee-on-The-Solent Golf Club | 2.00pm - 6.30pm |
| Golf Mix 2 | Lee-on-The-Solent Golf Club | 2.30pm - 7.00pm |
| Fixture | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Basketball M2 | Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 1 | 9.00am - 11.00am |
| Basketball W1 | Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 1 | 11.00am - 1.00pm |
| Basketball M1 | Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 1 | 3.30pm - 5.30pm |
| Climbing (Female) | Ravelin Climbing Wall | 8.30am - 4.00pm |
| Climbing (Open) | Ravelin Climbing Wall | 8.30am - 4.00pm |
| Dodgeball M2 | St. Paul's Sports Hall | 2.00pm - 2.45pm |
| Dodgeball W1 | St. Paul's Sports Hall | 2.45pm - 3.30pm |
| Dodgeball M1 | St. Paul's Sports Hall | 3.30pm - 4.15pm |
| Dodgeball Mix 1 | St. Paul's Sports Hall | 4.15pm - 5.00pm |
| Fencing M1 | St. Paul's Sports Hall | 9.00am - 2.00pm |
| Fencing W1 | St. Paul's Sports Hall | 9.00am - 2.00pm |
| Football M1 | HMS Temeraire Stadium Pitch | 9.30am - 11.30am |
| Lacrosse M1 | HMS Temeraire 3G (Cage) | 9.00am - 11.00am |
| Football W1 | HMS Temeraire Stadium Pitch | 12.30pm - 2.30pm |
| Football W2 | HMS Temeraire 3G | 3.00pm - 5.00pm |
| Lacrosse Mixed 1 | HMS Temeraire 3G (Cage) | 1.00pm - 3.00pm |
| Lacrosse W1 | HMS Temeraire 3G (Cage) | 11.00am - 1.00pm |
| Netball 4 | Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 2 | 9.00am - 10.30am |
| Netball 3 | Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 2 | 10.30am - 12.00pm |
| Netball 2 | Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 2 | 12.00pm - 1.30pm |
| Netball 1 | Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 1 | 2.00pm - 3.30pm |
| Pool (Mixed) | (SUSU) Soton University SU | 1.00pm - 6.00pm |
| Rugby M3 | HMS Temeraire 4G | 10.00am - 12.00pm |
| Rugby M2 | HMS Temeraire 4G | 1.00pm - 3.00pm |
| Squash (Female) | Ravelin Squash Courts | 9.00am - 5.00pm |
| Squash (Open) | Ravelin Squash Courts | 9.00am - 5.00pm |
| Swim (Female) | Ravelin Sports Centre Pool | 3.00pm - 5.00pm |
| Swim (Open) | Ravelin Sports Centre Pool | 3.00pm - 5.00pm |
| Taekwondo (Female) | Ravelin Sports Centre Studio both studios | 3.30pm - 6.30pm |
| Taekwondo (Open) | Ravelin Sports Centre Studio both studios | 2.5 Hrs - |
| Fixture | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Archery (Female) | St. Paul's Sports Hall | 9.00am - 12.00pm |
| Archery (Open) | St. Paul's Sports Hall | 9.00am - 12.00pm |
| Athletics (Female) | HMS Temeraire - Track | 10.00am - 4.00pm |
| Athletics (Open) | HMS Temeraire - Track | 10.00am - 4.00pm |
| Badminton M1 | Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 2 | 9.00am - 12.30pm |
| Badminton M2 | Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 2 | 9.00am - 12.30pm |
| Badminton W1 | Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 2 | 9.00am - 12.30pm |
| Cricket W1 | St. Paul's Sports Hall | 1.00pm - 2.00pm |
| Cricket M3 | St. Paul's Sports Hall | 2.00pm - 3.00pm |
| Cricket M2 | St. Paul's Sports Hall | 3.00pm - 4.00pm |
| Cricket M1 | St. Paul's Sports Hall | 4.00pm - 5.00pm |
| Dance | Ravelin Sports Centre Studio | 2.00pm - 6.00pm |
| Football Dev #1 | HMS Temeraire 3G | 9.00am - 11.00am |
| Football M4 | HMS Temeraire 3G | 11.00am - 1.00pm |
| Football M3 | HMS Temeraire 3G | 1.00pm - 3.00pm |
| Football M2 | HMS Temeraire 3G | 3.00pm - 5.00pm |
| Hockey M2 | HMS Temeraire Water-based Astro | 9.00am - 10.30am |
| Hockey W2 | HMS Temeraire Water-based Astro | 10.30am - 12.00pm |
| Hockey M1 | HMS Temeraire Water-based Astro | 12.00pm - 1.30pm |
| Hockey W1 | HMS Temeraire Water-based Astro | 1.30pm - 3.00pm |
| Powerlifting | Sport & Wellbeing University of Southampton | 9.00am - 5.00pm |
| Table Tennis (Men's) | Ravelin Squash Courts | 9.00am - 1.00pm |
| Table Tennis (Women's) | Ravelin Squash Courts | 1.00pm - 4.00pm |
| Tennis M1 | Portsmouth Tennis Academy | 12.00pm - 5.00pm |
| Tennis M2 | Portsmouth Tennis Academy | 12.00pm - 5.00pm |
| Tennis W1 | Portsmouth Tennis Academy | 12.00pm - 5.00pm |
| Tennis W2 | Portsmouth Tennis Academy | 12.00pm - 5.00pm |
| Trampolining | Southampton Uni | 8.00am - 3.00pm |
| Volleyball M2 | Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 1 | 9.00am - 11.00am |
| Volleyball W2 | Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 1 | 11.00am - 1.00pm |
| Volleyball M1 | Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 1 | 3.00pm - 5.00pm |
| Volleyball W1 | Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 1 | 1.00pm - 3.00pm |
| Water Polo Mixed | Ravelin Sports Centre Pool | 3.00pm - 5.00pm |
Varsity 2026 - Wednesday 6 May
Represent Team UoP, have fun and take on the University of Southampton.
Varsity 2026 - Friday 8 May
Represent Team UoP, have fun and take on the University of Southampton.
Varsity Cup 2026 Main Weekend
Represent Team UoP, have fun and take on the University of Southampton.
Welfare and Behaviour
We understand that at times, unique situations can arise and we want you to feel confident that we're here to stand by you and support your welfare every step of the way. Please, read this important information before attending Varsity 2026.
Why should you attend?
There are loads of reasons why Varsity is such a great and worthwhile event to attend.
- Access a whole day of exciting and competitive sport
- Get behind Team UOP and help to cheer them on
- Meet loads of like-minded people
- Feel part of something
- Experience an incredible atmosphere
Sports featured in Varsity
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Varsity sponsors
Carrington West
Our lead Team UOP sports club sponsor Carrington West is an award-winning, Portsmouth-based, technical recruitment company. Carrington West are the main partner of competitive sport at the University of Portsmouth.
The partnership sees Carrington West become the front of shirt sponsor for the University’s sports teams. Carrington West will also deliver educational seminars and workshops for students, ensuring that students get both on and off-the-field development opportunities, which is vital to their continued success in the graduate market.
Founded in 2011 Carrington West is experienced and successful in the recruitment community, providing high-calibre talent in the UK for highways, transport and infrastructure, town planning, water and environmental, utilities, power and telecoms, building and rail industries. They recruit interim, temporary and permanent professionals from entry to board level for private and public sector organisations.
FAQs
When is Portsmouth Varsity 2026?
Most Varsity fixtures are on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 May 2026. Some sports have earlier fixtures, including Rugby, Futsal, Netball, Darts and Ultimate Frisbee
What is Varsity?
Varsity is our annual sports competition between the University of Portsmouth and Southampton University. The event has been running for almost 20 years. All fixture results are combined to determine the overall winner of the Varsity Cup.
Varsity also includes our Navy Varsity fixtures, where development teams from Team UOP take on the Royal Navy. Navy Varsity does not count towards the overall Varsity score.
How do I take part in Varsity?
Competing teams will be selected by team captains and coaches, similar to any other competition. Only members of Team UOP sports clubs are eligible to compete in Varsity, with the exception of Darts, Pool and Powerlifting, which are managed by the University of Portsmouth Students' Union.
What can I see and do at Varsity?
Portsmouth Varsity 2026 will feature over 100 fixtures and 30 sports. With Navy Varsity and fixtures in the build-up to the event in the main week of Varsity, and two full days of fixtures at the weekend, there will be loads of sporting action to watch. We also have Varsity Village, located next to Ravelin Sports Centre, where you can get food and drink during the main Varsity weekend (9-10 May).
Is there a Varsity after party?
University of Portsmouth and the Department of Sport and Recreation are not affiliated with any Varsity after party.