"Education is Important, but Sport is More Importanter."
- Ben Bagley
- Sep 1, 2025
- 4 min read
The Saint's Picks of the University Sporting Calendar
As any balding investment banker will tell you, St Andrews and golf are synonymous —and with the Open Championship returning to the Fife fairways for the 31st time in 2027, there’s every reason for the university’s golf enthusiasts to be excited.
Beyond birdies and bunkers, the university’s sporting calendar is action packed. From drizzly Sunday league fixtures to performance-level water polo, there’s plenty to keep sports fans entertained from the bleak midwinter through to the mildly less bleak Scottish summer.
Over the course of the academic year, student athletes take part in competitions organised by the British Universities and College Sports (BUCS), with the university’s finest competing against other top institutions in a multitude of sports. As ever, The Saint is here to keep you up to date across the board. Here are a few of our standout dates for your semester planner:
The Scottish Varsity Match
Date: 20 September 2025
Location: The HIVE Stadium, Edinburgh
First semester curtain raiser, the Scottish Varsity is as historic as it is fiercely competitive. St Andrews and Edinburgh’s men’s rugby clubs have played since the 1860s, making this the sport’s oldest varsity encounter.
The Saints will be aiming to defend their title in the looming shadow of Murrayfield, iconic home of Scottish rugby. St Andrews students cross the Forth Road Bridge in their droves for this one, bringing a lively atmosphere to the capital.
There truly is no better way to kick-off the academic year than with a trip to the rugby. Tickets are online and, as ever, selling like the proverbial freshly baked goods.
BUCS Big Wednesday
Date: 24-25 March 2026
Location: Loughborough University
BUCS Big Wednesday is appropriately marketed as ‘the biggest day in university sport’ with finalists from across the UK competing for national honours in sixteen sports over a 24-hour period. That’s 57 finals in one day — you do the math(s).
This year’s event returns to Loughborough, a town as steeped in university sporting tradition as it is difficult for American students to pronounce. St Andrews will be looking to repeat the successes of last year where the Saints picked up titles in both the women’s football and men’s rugby.
The round journey is not for the faint of heart, but well worth the trip for those partial to a long stint on the Megabus.
Jonny Wookey Memorial Varsity Game
Date: March / April 2026 (Date TBC)
Location: Fife Ice Arena, Kirkcaldy
Held annually in memory of Jonny Wookey — a much-loved student who passed away in 2012 — this fixture has become one of St Andrews’ most well-loved sporting traditions.
Students descend on Kirkcaldy (another difficult one) for the most intense hockey rivalry this side of Hadrian’s Wall. The St Andrews Typhoons got the better of the Edinburgh Eagles last time round and will no doubt be looking to reassert their dominance next spring.
This year marks the Typhoons’ fifteenth anniversary and club captain Andy Benstead insists they will be pulling out all the stops for a memorable weekend: “Expect the same low prices, packed stands, and great atmosphere the game is known for,” he told The Saint.
Saints Coastal Regatta
Date: 11-12 April 2026
Location: East Sands Beach, St Andrews
For those more nautically inclined, the Saints Coastal Regatta graces the Fife coastline in the spring. As one of the UK’s largest coastal rowing events, the event attracts top-tier crews from across the country.
For many student rowers, the regatta acts as a stepping stone to representing Scotland or Team GB. Over the summer, Saints rower Sophia Issberner represented Great Britain at the World University Games hosted in Germany — no mean feat.
The Saints Coastal Regatta is all the fun of the Oxbridge Boat Race without the prospect of ingesting several tonnes of Thames raw sewage.
The St Andrews Challenge
Date: November 2025 (Date TBC)
Location: The Scottish Clay Shooting Centre, Leuchars
At the static end of the sporting spectrum, the St Andrews Challenge boasts the title of the largest university clay pigeon shooting event in the UK. Hosted just down the road in Leuchars (pronounced loo-kuhz), the Challenge is a long day of shooting for competitors from universities up and down the country.
Acting as a prelude to the much-anticipated Welly Ball, it’s a date firmly pencilled in the diary for shooters and partygoers alike.
The Boyd Quaich Memorial Golf Tournament
Date 24-26 June 2026
Location: The Old and New Courses, St Andrews
We probably should mention golf…
Honouring Quentin and Anthony Boyd — St Andrews alumni who gave their lives in World War II — the Boyd Quaich has attracted student golfers from around the world since 1946.
Now in its 78th edition, the tournament offers students the chance to compete on the world’s oldest course. Admittedly, very few of you will even be here in June, but it’s a good day out for the summer lingerers.
Of course, this is but a snapshot of the sporting calendar. Whether you’re competing, supporting, or simply there for a refreshing can of local lager, there’s always healthy competition taking place at St Andrews. Stay up to date with the best of university sport with The Saint both online and in our bi-weekly print editions. As a wise rugby player once told me: “education is important, but sport is more important-er.”
Image by Isabella Abbott
Education and sport are often compared, but I believe both are about building discipline and focus. For fans who like to stay connected, part of that discipline is keeping track of your access details. Using member login on secure sites makes it straightforward to manage everything in one place. It’s a small step, but it helps fans concentrate on the games and discussions that matter most.
Love seeing such a packed university sports calendar—there’s truly something for everyone! Beyond competition, training outside the pool or field is just as important for long-term performance. For swimmers in particular, adding structured dryland training for swimmers builds strength, stability, and injury resistance, making them stronger athletes when they’re back in the water.