The Varsity Series, or the Charity Varsity Series, comprises a number of sports events pitching Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham against each other in a university rivalry. It has been organised for the benefit of charity since 2004. The university that wins the most events is declared winner. One point and half a point are awarded for winning and drawing an event, respectively. The two institutions are based in Nottingham in the United Kingdom and the rivalry is contested in a variety of sports, although ice hockey is seen as the premier event and is the second most attended university ice hockey match outside of North America, selling out the 7,500-seat National Ice Centre since 2009. The winner takes home the Varsity Trophy, which they hold until the conclusion of the following year's series. The University of Nottingham currently leads Nottingham Trent in total series wins by 8-4 since 2004, one series has been drawn, in 2011. The University of Nottingham has won the last 5 series.
Format The two universities compete against each other in fifteen events across eleven sports. The winner of an event wins a point and both teams earn half a point in the event of a draw. The hosting of the rugby league, netball, basketball and cricket alternates from year to year and the remaining events are held at fixed venues. The table below lists all the events that have been contested in the Varsity Series, the year in which they were first contested and the number of times they have been contested until 2014 inclusive. Penalty shoot-out wins are not counted as draws.
EventSeriesYearsNTU winsUoN winsDrawsBasketball, men's11+–present3+5+0+Basketball, women's11+–present3+5+0+Cricket, men's10+–present4+3+3+Football, men's14+–present8+6+0+Football, women's13+–present7+2+1+Hockey, men's11+–present2+5+1+Hockey, women's11+–present2+6+0+Netball, women's11+–present4+4+0+Rugby league, men's9+–present5+4+0+Rugby union, men's10+–present2+4+1+Rugby union, women's10+–present4+5+1+Swimming, mixed7+–20062009–present0+6+0+Ice hockey, men's102005–present640American football, men's52010–present520Lacrosse, men's32012–present120Table tennis12014–present100Total147+–present57+61+7+Series14+–present4+6+1+
Charities Since 2004, ticket sales from the Varsity Series have been used to raise money for charitable organisations. Below is a list of those supported: 2004: Children's Centre –- Nottingham City Hospital 2005: The Asian Tsunami Appeal 2006: The Danielle Beccan Memorial Trust 2007: CP Sport 2008: Nottinghamshire Royal Society for the Blind 2009: Balls to Poverty 2010: CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) 2011: PASIC (Parents Association for Seriously Ill Children) 2012: CP Sport 2013: Headway 2014: DKH Legacy Trust
Rivalry beyond the Varsity Series
Academic There is a lively academic rivalry between the universities, with Nottingham Trent University competing with and even overtaking its Russell Group neighbour the University of Nottingham in recent league tables. Nottingham Trent University has its origins in the Nottingham Government School of Design founded in 1843. The University of Nottingham was originally a constituent college of the University of London known as University College Nottingham, before being upgraded to full university status in 1948.
Sport In British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) competition, Nottingham University have always finished between fourth and ninth position since 2002–03, whereas Trent have finished between 17th and 43rd. The Varsity Series is not a part of BUCS competition. The University of Nottingham compete in green and gold for the Varsity Series, as they do in BUCS events, and Nottingham Trent University wear pink and blue. ice hockey is not a BUCS sport, so is not bound by the rules that the other sports are. As a consequence, the two universities ice hockey teams, which outside Varsity competition compete as a combined team as the Nottingham Mavericks, wore yellow and blue respectively until 2014, when the BUCS colours were worn.
Early years It is unclear when the first varsity match was played or whether an organised series was contested in this period.
2001 Nottingham Trent University won the men's football contest on penalties after the match finished one apiece after extra time.
2002 In early March 2002, the University of Nottingham beat Nottingham Trent University 5–1 in the men's football match and 1–0 in the women's.
2003 The University of Nottingham retained the Varsity Football Cup with a 2–0 victory over Nottingham Trent University.
Charity varsity
2004 2004 saw the University of Nottingham victorious in the football for the second consecutive year by a margin of two goals to none. This was the first year that the series was organised for the benefit of charity. The University of Nottingham secured a series victory.
2005 In 2005, Nottingham Trent University won the ice hockey match on penalties and the football match 1–0. This was the first time ice hockey had featured in the series, adding to the football, basketball, hockey, rugby and netball events. Trent won the women's rugby union event. The cricket was abandoned. Trent won the series.
The men's 1st XI hockey match ended 2-2 with Ben Scott scoring a last minute equaliser from and Alastair Wilson pass.
2006 On 6 March 2006, the University of Nottingham secured victory in the football match, winning 2–0 for the third time in four years.
DateEventVenueResultThursday 1 MarchMen's ice hockeyNational Ice CentreNTU 5–5 UoN (3–0 on penalties)17:30 Tuesday 6 MarchWomen's footballMeadow LaneNTU 3–0 UoN19:45, Tuesday 6 MarchMen's footballMeadow LaneNTU 0–2 UoN19:00, Tuesday 13 MarchMen's rugby leagueFerryfieldsNTU 22–14 UoNThursday 15 MarchWomen's basketballUniversity of Nottingham Sports CentreThursday 15 MarchMen's basketballUniversity of Nottingham Sports Centre17:30, Tuesday 20 MarchWomen's rugby unionMeadow LaneNTU beat UoN19:30, Tuesday 20 MarchMen's rugby unionMeadow LaneThursday 22 MarchWomen's netballUniversity of Nottingham Sports CentreWednesday 3 MayWomen's hockeyBeeston Hockey ClubWednesday 3 MayMen's hockeyBeeston Hockey Club NTU won 4-3 (Scott x 2, Henderson, Wilson)Saturday 6 MaySwimmingUniversity of Nottingham Swimming PoolSunday 7 MayMen's cricketTrent BridgeMatch abandoned due to rainSeriesNTU 8.5–4.5 UoN
2007 DateEventVenueResultThursday 1 MarchMen's ice hockeyNational Ice CentreUoN 3–5 NTU17:30, Monday 12 MarchWomen's footballMeadow LaneUoN 0–2 NTU19:45, Monday 12 MarchMen's footballMeadow LaneUoN 0–3 NTUWednesday 14 MarchWomen's netballUniversity of Nottingham Sports CentreUoN 43–35 NTUWednesday 14 MarchWomen's basketballUniversity of Nottingham Sports CentreUoN beat NTUWednesday 14 MarchMen's basketballUniversity of Nottingham Sports CentreUoN 71–59 NTUThursday 26 AprilWomen's hockeyBeeston Hockey ClubUoN 1–2 NTUThursday 26 AprilMen's hockeyBeeston Hockey ClubUoN 5–2 NTU17:30, Monday 30 AprilWomen's rugby unionMeadow LaneUoN 5–10 NTU19:45, Monday 30 AprilMen's rugby unionMeadow LaneUoN 29–10 NTU Men's rugby leagueFerryfieldsUoN 38–8 NTU11:00, Sunday 27 MayMen's cricketTrent BridgeMatch abandoned due to rainSeriesUoN 6.5–5.5 NTU
2008 In 2008, Nottingham Trent University emerged victorious, winning seven events, drawing one and losing four.
DateEventVenueResult19:35, Monday 25 FebruaryMen's ice hockeyNational Ice CentreNTU 2–0 UoN17:30, Monday 3 MarchWomen's footballMeadow LaneNTU 3–0 UoN19:45, Monday 3 MarchMen's footballMeadow LaneNTU 2–0 UoN14:00, Wednesday 12 MarchWomen's netballNottingham Trent Sports CentreNTU 44-22 UoN16:00, Wednesday 12 MarchWomen's basketballNottingham Trent Sports CentreNTU 55–42 UoN18:00, Wednesday 12 MarchMen's basketballNottingham Trent Sports CentreNTU 68–70 UoN17:30, Monday 21 AprilWomen's rugby unionMeadow LaneNTU 10–10 UoN19:45, Monday 21 AprilMen's rugby unionMeadow LaneNTU 3–10 UoN18:15, Thursday 24 AprilWomen's hockeyBeeston Hockey ClubNTU 1–2 UoN20:00, Thursday 24 AprilMen's hockeyBeeston Hockey ClubNTU 4–2 UoNWednesday 30 AprilMen's rugby league NTU 14–20 UoN Men's cricket NTU beat UoN by 3 runsSeriesNTU 7.5–4.5 UoN
2009 In 2009, the University of Nottingham secured victory, winning seven events, drawing one and losing five. Swimming was included as an event again for the first time since 2006. A sell-out crowd of 7,000 saw the University of Nottingham win their first ice hockey match against Trent in Varsity competition.
DateEventVenueResult14:00, Wednesday 25 FebruarySwimmingUniversity of Nottingham Swimming PoolUoN beat NTUSunday 8 MarchMen's rugby leagueLady Bay GroundUoN 10–18 NTU19:30, Monday 9 MarchMen's ice hockeyNational Ice CentreUoN 6–1 NTU14:00, Wednesday 18 MarchWomen's netballUniversity of Nottingham Sports CentreUoN 26–43 NTU16:00, Wednesday 18 MarchWomen's basketballUniversity of Nottingham Sports CentreUoN 58–50 NTU18:00, Wednesday 18 MarchMen's basketballUniversity of Nottingham Sports CentreUoN 47–61 NTU17:30, Wednesday 22 AprilWomen's footballMeadow LaneUoN 0–0 NTU19:45, Wednesday 22 AprilMen's footballMeadow LaneUoN 1–2 NTU17:30, Monday 27 AprilWomen's rugby unionMeadow LaneUoN 15–0 NTU19:45, Monday 27 AprilMen's rugby unionMeadow LaneUoN 13–13 NTU17:45, Wednesday 29 AprilWomen's hockeyBeeston Hockey ClubUoN 5–1 NTU19:30, Wednesday 29 AprilMen's hockeyBeeston Hockey ClubUoN 3–3 NTUMonday 4 MayMen's cricketHighfieldsUoN beat Trent by six wicketsSeriesUoN 7.5–5.5 NTU
2010 In 2010, the universities competed in ten disciplines, including American football for the first time. Nottingham Trent University won eight of the fourteen events. Such was the demand for tickets that the University of Nottingham's television station, NUTS, aired the ice hockey match live online. Also, for the first time in recent Varsity history, drawing was eliminated and penalty shoot-outs would determine the outright winner.
DateEventVenueResult13:00, Sunday 7 FebruaryMen's American footballHarvey Hadden StadiumNTU 14–6 UoN18:30, Monday 15 FebruaryMen's ice hockeyNational Ice CentreNTU 6–6 UoN (0–2 on penalties)15:00, Wednesday 24 FebruarySwimmingUniversity of Nottingham Swimming PoolNTU 255–415 UoN15:00, Sunday 28 FebruaryMen's rugby leagueLady Bay GroundNTU 16–18 UoN17:00, Wednesday 10 MarchWomen's netballNottingham Trent Sports CentreNTU 36–26 UoN18:00, Thursday 11 MarchWomen's basketballNottingham Trent Sports CentreNTU 75–58 UoN20:00, Thursday 11 MarchMen's basketballNottingham Trent Sports CentreNTU 59–32 UoN 17:30, Tuesday 16 MarchWomen's rugby unionMeadow LaneNTU 5–14 UoN19:45, Tuesday 16 MarchMen's rugby unionMeadow LaneNTU 18–5 UoN17:30, Monday 22 MarchWomen's footballMeadow LaneNTU 3–1 UoN19:45, Monday 22 MarchMen's footballMeadow LaneNTU 2–2 UoN (3–4 on penalties)17:00, Wednesday 26 MarchWomen's hockeyBeeston Hockey ClubNTU 5–2 UoN19:00, Wednesday 26 MarchMen's hockeyBeeston Hockey ClubNTU 3–4 UoNFriday 4 JuneMen's cricketClifton Cricket GroundNTU beat UoN by 48 runsSeriesNTU 8–6 UoN
2011