[1] The Scottish Varsity rugby match between the University of St Andrews and the University of Edinburgh at Murrayfield stadium is claimed to be the oldest recurring varsity match in the world, having been played since the 1860s.
Unusually for British university sporting events, both the Boat Race and Varsity Match are shown on broadcast television.
British newspaper The Independent proposed in 2008 that Bath vs Loughborough was "the real varsity match" on the basis that these were the top two teams (at that time) in British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) competitions.
[9][10] A number of city and regional sporting rivalries exist between universities, which are also dubbed varsity matches.
The Roses Tournament between the universities of York and Lancaster is one of the oldest and largest of these, dating back to 1965.