Cheerleading squad performing at Varsity

Varsity Cup 2026

Represent Team UoP, have fun and take on the University of Southampton.

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 from Ravelin Sports Centre

  • Full weekend ticket: £12
  • Limited edition T-shirt: £15
    • Your T-shirt is an optional extra and doesn't give you access to any Varsity fixtures

If you purchased your ticket or bundle online, you can now collect your ticket or bundle from Ravelin Sports Centre.

  • 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

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 from Ravelin Sports Centre. 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.

Current Varsity Scores

Last updated: Monday 5 May 12.00pm

Portsmouth: 20

Southampton: 16

Points required to win: 171

Points still available: 304

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 M2Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 19.00am - 11.00am
Basketball W1Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 111.00am - 1.00pm
Basketball M1Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 13.30pm - 5.30pm
Climbing (Female)Ravelin Climbing Wall8.30am - 4.00pm
Climbing (Open)Ravelin Climbing Wall8.30am - 4.00pm
Dodgeball M2St. Paul's Sports Hall2.00pm - 2.45pm
Dodgeball W1St. Paul's Sports Hall2.45pm - 3.30pm
Dodgeball M1St. Paul's Sports Hall3.30pm - 4.15pm
Dodgeball Mix 1St. Paul's Sports Hall4.15pm - 5.00pm
Fencing M1St. Paul's Sports Hall9.00am - 2.00pm
Fencing W1St. Paul's Sports Hall9.00am - 2.00pm
Football M13G1 Langstone Pitches9.30am - 11.30am
Lacrosse M13G2 Langstone Pitches9.00am - 11.00am
Football W13G1 Langstone Pitches12.30pm - 2.30pm
Football W23G1 Langstone Pitches3.00pm - 5.00pm
Lacrosse Mixed 13G2 Langstone Pitches1.00pm - 3.00pm
Lacrosse W13G2 Langstone Pitches11.00am - 1.00pm
Netball 4Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 29.00am - 10.30am
Netball 3Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 210.30am - 12.00pm
Netball 2Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 212.00pm - 1.30pm
Netball 1Ravelin Sports Centre Hall 12.00pm - 3.30pm
Pool (Mixed)(SUSU) Soton University SU1.00pm - 6.00pm
Rugby M3HMS Temeraire 4G10.00am - 12.00pm
Rugby M2HMS Temeraire 4G1.00pm - 3.00pm
Squash (Female)Ravelin Squash Courts9.00am - 5.00pm
Squash (Open)Ravelin Squash Courts9.00am - 5.00pm
Swim (Female)Ravelin Sports Centre Pool3.00pm - 5.00pm
Swim (Open)Ravelin Sports Centre Pool3.00pm - 5.00pm
Taekwondo (Female)Ravelin Sports Centre Studio both studios3.30pm - 6.30pm
Taekwondo (Open)Ravelin Sports Centre Studio both studios3.30pm - 6.30pm

 

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

 

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
Women's Cricket team celebrating at Varsity 2025

Sports featured in Varsity

 

  • Archery
  • Athletics
  • Badminton
  • Basketball
  • Climbing
  • Darts
  • Dance
  • Dodgeball
  • Equestrian
  • Fencing
  • Futsal
  • Golf
  • Gymnastics
  • Hockey
  • Lacrosse
  • Men's Cricket
  • Men's Football
  • Men's Rugby
  • Netball
  • Pool
  • Powerlifting
  • Rowing
  • Sailing
  • Squash
  • Swimming
  • Table Tennis
  • Taekwondo and Karate
  • Tennis
  • Ultimate Frisbee
  • Volleyball
  • Water Polo
  • Women's Cricket
  • Women's Football
  • Women's Rugby

 

 

Varsity sponsors

Varsity 2024

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.

Find out more

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.