Varsity teams clash in popular sporting festival
A SEA of green and red shirts took over the city yesterday as Swansea and Cardiff’s university sports teams went head to head for the return of Welsh Varsity.
Now in its 22nd year, the tournament sees Swansea University sports teams go up against Cardiff University students in the biggest student event in Wales and the largest student multi-sport event in the UK.
The week-long festival of sport, contested across 40 different sports for the Varsity Shield, saw the majority of games take place at Swansea University’s International Sports Village in Sketty Lane yesterday, culminating in the all-important men’s rugby match.
It took place at the Liberty Stadium, and there was a carnival atmosphere as students got behind their respective university teams.
A minute’s applause took place to recognise the tragic loss of 27-yearold Doncaster RFC rugby player and Swansea alumni Ian Williams ahead of the game.
Shield winners this year were Cardiff who came out on top 27-16.
After the men’s rugby match, won by Cardiff 23-15, many went out into Wind Street to celebrate, or commiserate, this year’s result.
Welsh Varsity chairman Paul Thorburn described the popular competition as “one of the best occasions in the Welsh student calendar and the biggest student sporting event in Wales”.