Each year, the University of Surrey takes part in a single-day event in which almost all the teams from all sports and societies go head-to-head with a rival university. For Team Surrey, our rival happens to be Royal Holloway University of London. The 2025 Varsity event took place on home ground at the Surrey Sports Park. It was a sunny day with a great turnout from both sides. Most importantly however, Team Surrey’s teams dominated in almost every sport!
As a rugby fan, I started off my day by watching the Men’s 1st XV against Royal Holloway, it was great to see some familiar faces on the field and in the crowd. After roughly 80 minutes of perfectly executing lineouts, big scrums and creative backline runs, Team Surrey secured the victory by a sizeable margin. What was great to see about this match was the sportsmanship displayed by both teams as they each took turns to make a human tunnel and clap the other team off.
Shortly after watching the rugby, I joined some friends who were watching the Men’s 1st XI football team. The turnout was once again impressive, with many students wearing their Varsity shirts and cheering on the team as they put up a great effort against the opposition. The Women’s 1st XI Football team also had a great turnout and they equally played a good game. I briefly ventured inside to one of the SSP studios to watch the Mixed Marital Arts fighters who were fiercely grappling with their respective supporters. Although I did not stay to see the end, I was impressed by the level of skill displayed and once again, the turnout was absolutely incredible.
The last event which I watched was the showcase match, which saw the Women’s Volleyball team go head-to-head with Royal Holloway on the main indoor court. The event was completely full of supporters from both sides cheering on their teams. It was so packed that security had to temporarily prevent people from coming in to prevent overcrowding, that the Varsity spirit! There was also a halftime show from the cheerleading team who showed off their agility and teamwork. There were many other sports taking place, including badminton, tennis and American Football, in which Team Surrey won in almost all.
After the fixtures had ended, it was time to celebrate. Sports teams and societies hosted their respective social events before heading to Rubix, Surrey’s very own Student Union club. Wednesdays at Rubix are always an anticipated event but this Wednesday was particularly special as it was a celebration of all the teams and societies who played that day and also the end of the competitive sports season. The DJs at Rubix played a good mix of house music, Hip Hop and RnB. The party continued until the early morning hours and students began to make their way home.
Overall, my experience of watching the Varsity event made me realise the importance of finding community while at university. Surrey’s sports teams have been life-changing for many, giving them access to not only play sport at a competitive level, but also to meet friends for life. I particularly enjoyed spending time with some of the 1st XV rugby players who truly embody the spirit of brotherhood and camaraderie. It was because of their welcoming energy that I decided to attend a casual training session which I thoroughly enjoyed. I would definitely encourage all students to try out a sport, join a society, and make the most of what Surrey has to offer. I look forward to Varsity 2026 and I have absolutely no doubt that Surrey will once again take the win!
