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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Katie Sands

Welsh Varsity 2019: The best pictures as thousands of students turn out for annual grudge contest

Welsh Varsity is over for another year, with Cardiff University taking home the bragging rights after a thrilling display of sporting talent from both sides.

The hosts claimed both the Welsh Varsity Shield, thanks to picking up a majority of wins in the overall tally throughout the event, as well as the Varsity Cup following a 78-7 victory in the men's rugby finale at the Principality Stadium.

Around 15,000 students were estimated to be in Cardiff as the city centre steadily got busier throughout the day.

Pubs were packed out from early afternoon, while large crowds gathered outside Cardiff Castle to sunbathe thanks to a spell of spring sunshine.

Here are the best pictures from a day of ultimate student sporting rivalry. You can read about everything that happened here.

Fans from both sides turned out to cheer on their teams

(Ben Evans/Huw Evans Agency)
(WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
(Ben Evans/Huw Evans Agency)
(Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)
(Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)
(WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
Students cheer on Cardiff University (Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)

Cardiff's pubs were packed out

The queue outside the Prince of Wales for Welsh Varsity (Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)
(Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)
(Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)
(Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)

Spell in the sun, anyone?

(WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
Students make the most of the sunshine outside Cardiff Castle (WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

You can see the full gallery of Welsh Varsity 2019 pictures below (scroll across if you're on a mobile)

A plethora of sporting talent was on display...

Women's Hockey at Sport Wales, Cardiff (James Davies Photography)
Men's Lacrosse team at the Astro, Sport Wales (James Davies Photography)
Netball at the main hall, Sport Wales, Cardiff (James Davies Photography)
American football gets going in Llanrumney (WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

...before the showpiece finale at the Principality Stadium

The men's rugby finale ended with a score of 78-7, in a very much one-sided affair.

A fixture clash meant Swansea University's first team were deployed elsewhere for a vital BUCS Super Rugby play-off final against Nottingham Trent, fielding a 'Barbarians-style' side for the Varsity fixture instead.

Thankfully, Swansea University RFC won promotion to the BUCS Super Rugby - the highest level of university rugby union.

Cardiff University celebrate with the trophy (Ben Evans/Huw Evans Agency)
Owen Davies of Cardiff celebrates scoring a try with team-mates (Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)
(Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)
Rhod Wall of Cardiff celebrates scoring a try (Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)
(Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)
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