Women's Rugby Varsity 2026: Edinburgh Beat St Andrews 41-7

On Friday evening, the St Andrews Varsity Women’s Rugby Team played their Edinburgh rivals in the season opener game. 

Immediately upon arrival at the pitch, the Sports Centre was lively, crowded, and ready for the game. There was anticipation as coach buses began to arrive, and both St Andrews and Edinburgh students alike spilled into the surrounding area of the pitch. 

A delightful scent of woodfired pizza came from a local small-business truck selling pizzas to fans. The evening had the classic thrill of watching a university sports game, with students arriving in groups wrapped up against the cool weather, under the floodlights. 

The game result was a tough loss, 41-7 to Edinburgh. The Saints put on a great fight and left the pitch smiling and excited to embrace the affection of all the student fans, locals, and families that showed up in support. 

At half-time, the score was 17-0 to Edinburgh, but the Saints showed stronger defense during the second half and were able to score a converted try. The score was a rewarding moment for the home crowd, who cheered loudly from the sidelines and continued their support throughout. 

The women from Edinburgh however, showed incredible speed and made plenty of line breaks. Their quick transitions and ability to capitalise on open space made them difficult to contain throughout the match.

After the game, The Saint spoke to fourth-year Captain Annabel Sleigh, who said: “This game has given us a great goal.” 

The team had a five-week preseason, the longest in its history, that had an emphasis, according to Sleigh, on “team bonding” and strength and conditioning, including “Fijian beach sprinting.” 

These preparations had appeared to give the team a strong sense of unity, even in a difficult opening match against a familiar and competitive rival. When asked to reflect on the score and performance, Sleigh noted that she was “excited about what the team showed with our new structure.” 

For the future, she believes that improvement would come with “building our confidence and running in straight.” Her optimism was clear after the game, and it was an exhilarating start to the season. 

The game proceeded with electrifying energy and a unifying bagpipe ceremony. Supporters held encouraging signs, drinks, pizza, and good cheer. 

It felt like more than just the first fixture of the season; it was a chance for the wider St Andrews community to gather around one team and celebrate Varsity sport. 

When speaking to both St Andrews and Edinburgh students, they were equally impressed by the turnout, with Edinburgh students recounting that “there were a bunch of flyers everywhere for this game” and what the University did “nicely” was having “free buses and coaches to bring us to the game.”

Although it wasn’t an equal turnout for both the men and women varsity games, there were mirrored qualities of both events, including a superb half-time performance from St Andrews student acapella group, The Accidentals.

The crowd’s presence — from first-year students to returning alumni — showed that there is clear interest in continuing to grow support for women’s varsity sport at St Andrews. 

While the final score did not go the Saints’ way, the match gave the team a valuable first test of its new structure, fitness, and resilience. 

The St Andrews Women’s Rugby Team has a long season ahead, and the encouraging response from supporters made clear that they will not be facing it alone. With the determination shown in the second half, the confidence described by Sleigh, and a community willing to show up in large numbers, the Saints have plenty to build on as they move forward. 

Photo Credit: Marlow Mellquist