Sunshine, spirit, and strong performances at Varsity 2026

Under bright sunshine and clear skies, St Mary’s University travelled as three-time defending champions to the campus of Brunel University for Varsity 2026 – the annual event once again showcased the very best of student sport, community spirit, and university pride.

The opening fixtures set the tone for the day, with results shared across both Universities. Brunel took an early lead in men’s badminton (8–0), but St Mary’s responded through women’s badminton (5–3).

As the morning unfolded, Brunel secured wins in cricket (121–86) and men’s football 3s (2–1), while St Mary’s delivered impressive performances in men’s hockey (4–1) and rugby league (34–24), bringing the overall score level at 3-3.

The afternoon saw a series of tightly contested fixtures as men’s futsal (10–8), the dance showcase (316–301), and women’s hockey (3–2) all narrowly went Brunel’s way.

St Mary’s continued to fight back, with strong victories in men’s athletics (8–3) and men’s football 2s (2–0).

However, Brunel began to build momentum with wins in basketball (85–45), women’s athletics (9–2), and men’s tennis (4–2), extending their lead as the day progressed to 13–6.

Rugby union was one of the standout contests of the day, with Brunel edging a dramatic 43–42 victory, and in powerlifting where St Mary’s won 59.7-57.9.

St Mary’s continued to compete with intensity until the final events, securing wins in women’s football (4–0) and netball 1s (37–27), alongside a strong performance from netball 2s earlier in the day (38–28).

Despite these efforts, Brunel secured the Varsity title with a final score of 15–9.

While the result marks the end of St Mary’s three-year hold on the Varsity trophy, the day remained a powerful celebration of sport and community.

From athletes to supporters, the presence of the St Mary’s community on Brunel’s campus was felt throughout the day. The energy, encouragement, and pride shown across every fixture reflected the values at the heart of the university.