Welsh Varsity 2015
23 April 2015
Double win for Team Cardiff as it retains the Varsity Shield and brings home the Varsity Cup
The biggest student sporting event in Wales came to a head last night with Team Cardiff winning the coveted men's rugby Varsity Cup title at the annual Varsity competition.
Throughout the day, students from more than 30 sports clubs at Swansea and Cardiff Universities competed against each other for the Varsity Shield.
The event culminated in the men's rugby match at Swansea's Liberty Stadium, where Cardiff secured a 27-22 victory over Swansea to take the Varsity Cup. Team Cardiff also retained the Varsity Shield, which it has held since the tournament began.
Now in its 19th year, the event drew its biggest audience to date, with more than 20,000 spectators travelling to Swansea to watch the matches at venues across the city.
Competitors from both universities took part in sports including rowing, cycling, cricket, polo, lacrosse, tennis and netball.
Bryn Griffiths Athletic Union President, Cardiff University Students' Union said: "Participating in the Welsh Varsity competition is a great achievement for students as the event is a highlight of the sporting year. Both teams put a huge amount of preparation and dedication into their matches across each of the sports yesterday and should be very proud of their performances. The showcase rugby match was as tense as ever but it was great to see Team Cardiff come away with the title after a strong performance."
This year, students from both universities supported Stonewall's 'Rainbow Laces' campaign, which aims to tackle homophobia in sport and show support for gay players.
The Rainbow Laces campaign has received high-profile support from Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas, Stephen Fry, Gary Lineker, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Arsenal and Manchester City Football Club. Stonewall Cymru's research with Sport Wales reveals how one in three LGB people have experienced exclusion from sport because of their sexual orientation and three in four respondents reported hearing homophobic banter.