Varsity, rugby rivalries, and sporting excellence at Leeds Beckett

If you attended university in Leeds, you definitely know about the long-standing sporting rivalry and camaraderie between Leeds Beckett University and the University of Leeds. Every year since 2004, this manifests in a head-to-head competition between the two universities through Varsity.

Sport teams from both universities compete against each other in more than 100 fixtures. The three-day event culminates with the exciting rugby matches for men and women at Headingley Stadium. The events are open to students and alumni, and members of the community.

The final rugby matches at the end of Varsity are among the most important ones. In 2024, it is estimated that more than 7,000 people are set to attend at Headingley Stadium.

The Poly Ollies

The original rugby union team from Leeds Beckett was formed in the 1970s when it was still Leeds Polytechnic. They played their first-ever match against University of Leeds in 1976 and emerged as the winners.

The Poly Ollies have often come back to show their support during Varsity and other university championships. The team was led by Tony Horsfall, who also helped set up the Poly Ollies scholarship to support students from the Carnegie School of Sport.

Leeds Beckett and Leeds Rhinos

Leeds Beckett has had a long-standing relationship with rugby that has led to a continued partnership with the Leeds Rhinos. The university’s Carnegie School of Sport works with Leeds Rhinos on many projects, including research, performance support, and student experience.

Many of our alumni have played for the Rhinos or been associated with the team in various ways. There is a strong legacy of Leeds Beckett alumni at the club including former Leeds Rhinos player, captain, and director Kevin Sinfield CBE. Currently, he is the skills and kicking coach for the England national team. Kevin is Leeds Rhinos’ most successful captain and one of the sports’ biggest icons. He completed a BSc and an MA at Leeds Beckett alongside his professional rugby career and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Sport Science in 2019 in recognition of his achievements in rugby league.

Kevin has inspired the nation with his work to raise awareness for motor neurone disease (MND) after his friend and teammate Rob Burrow CBE, was diagnosed with the disease in 2019. Together they have raised more than £8 million for MND research and treatment. Rob Burrow CBE is also an Honorary Graduate of Leeds Beckett.

Our sporting community

Leeds Beckett University has continued to be among the best universities for sports. We have a long and ever-growing list of alumni in sports including football, swimming, cycling, walking, weightlifting, hockey, and athletics.

A significant number of our alumni have gone on to play national and international level rugby and many members of staff have provided support through coaching, development, and research.

Some of the prominent Leeds Rhinos stars who graduated from Leeds Beckett include Tom Briscoe, Jamie Jones-Buchanan MBE, Jimmy Keinhorst, Ian Kirke, and Jamie Peacock MBE. Former England Rugby League international player and current Head Coach of Leeds Rhinos Women, Lois Forsell, and players Danika Priim and Sophie Robinson MBE are also Leeds Beckett graduates. 

Many of our graduates have gone on to play and coach at national and international level. Emily Scarratt MBE, Alex Walmsley, Stuart Lancaster, and Sir Ian McGeechan, all graduated from Leeds Beckett University. Emily is one of the most influential players in women's rugby, having played for England since 2008 and won eight Six Nations titles, a World Cup, and a World Rugby Player of the Year award. Alex was a member of the England team which played in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup and Stuart is a renowned rugby union coach and former player who was the head coach of the English national team from 2011 to 2015. He currently works as the head coach of the French Top 14 club Racing 92. Sir Ian played for the Scottish team before he became a coach. He led the Scottish side to win a Grand Slam in the 1990 Five Nations Championship. He was also head coach on four tours for the British and Irish Lions between 1989 and 2009. 

Ikram Butt (Honorary Graduate), Matthew Diskin, Vicky Fleetwood, Frank Hadden, Austin Healey, Jonathan Pendlebury, Matt Diskin, Waisale Serevi, Jason Davidson, Harry Jepson OBE, Ellery Hanley MBE, Keara Bennett, Leah Burke, Jermaine Coleman, Michael Lawrence, James Woodburn-Hall, Keenen Tomlinson, Jy-Mel Coleman, twin brothers Connor and Curtis Davies, Ryan Brierley are some of the other rugby players and coaches who have graduated from Leeds Beckett.