Varsity to be held at Swansea Uni to celebrate launch of new campus

Organisers of the Welsh Varsity have decided to hold the games at Swansea University again to celebrate the launch of Swansea’s new Bay campus.

Organisers said that the annual event will be held in Swansea for the second year running to commend the opening of the Bay campus.

Varsity usually alternates between Cardiff and Swansea, but organisers have changed the plans this year so that Swansea can celebrate their new campus and the University’s 100th anniversary in 2020. Cardiff University was allowed to host the games for three years in a row from 2011 so they could celebrate the tournament’s 15th anniversary and later the University’s 125th anniversary.

Varsity will be held in Swansea again to celebrate their new campus

A spokesperson from the Varsity organisation said: “Swansea University are hosting the Welsh Varsity 2016 tournament to coincide with the launch of their new Bay campus.

“From 2017, the fixture will be hosted in Cardiff and will begin to alternate between Universities again.

“This allows Swansea University to host the event this year in line with celebrations opening their Bay Campus and again in 2020 in honour of the University’s 100^th anniversary.

“This is not unprecedented. Historically, the Welsh Varsity tournament has previously been played on neutral ground, alternated between Cardiff and Swansea, and been hosted by one University for multiple years.

“Cardiff was proud to host the 15^th anniversary of the tournament in 2011, with the fixture remaining in Cardiff for the three years that followed, a move that was initially requested to allow for the celebration of Cardiff’s 125^thAnniversary.

“The 2016 tournament promises to be a great event with even more sports added to the competition and we look forward to travelling to Swansea again to challenge them for the cup and shield.”