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3 unusual facts about The Varsity Match


Giles Bullard

In 1948 Bullard returned to Balliol, where he was president of the junior common room, and played cricket and rugby for the college, and rugby for the university in 1950 and 1951, in the latter year as captain of the side that beat Cambridge 13–0 in the Varsity Match, Bullard contributing most of the Oxford score.

John Risman

Bev is father to another John Risman, who was the first open double Blue, achieved his double (Dark) Blue while at the University of Oxford, in the both the Rugby Union Varsity, and the 1984 Rugby League Varsity Matches.

Ronald Lagden

While at Oxford University, Lagden took part in three Varsity matches.


Clement Pearson Simpson

Simpson first came to note as a rugby player when he was chosen to represent Cambridge University; and earned a single sporting 'Blue' as part of the Cambridge team in The Varsity Match of 1890.

David Akinluyi

David Akinluyi was controversially picked to play for Cambridge in the 2006 varsity match despite the fact that he was a full-time professional.

Isaac Cowley Lambert

Lambert was also a sportsman of note, and captained the Cambridge University rugby team in the very first Varsity Match.


see also