The Varsity American Football match, contested between Edinburgh Napier’s Knights and the University of Edinburgh’s Mavericks, is set to be played at Meggetland Stadium on Wednesday the 20th of March. A highlight of the Scottish sporting calendar, this match will mark the twelfth occasion of the derby.
Last year, the game was a thrilling affair, as the Mavericks edged a tight match 14 points to 6. The fireworks of last year are expected to continue on and off the pitch when the battle is renewed for the most spectacular trophy in UK American football.
Peter Laird, the head coach of the Knights, was especially excited about the match, saying that “after a Covid enforced break, the Varsity game returned with a bang last year. We had no idea if a post-season midweek fixture would work, but with our ongoing fight against the Scottish weather we felt it was worth a shot.”
The Mavericks head coach, Ryan Doherty, was equally thrilled about the prospect, stating that “We’ve already played, and beat, our cross town rivals twice this season in very close encounters. This year’s Varsity game allows us the opportunity to complete the hat-trick and I know we are all up to do that.”
The entertainment on the night will include a DJ, the Edinburgh Rampant Mediaeval Armour Combat Team, and the Edinburgh University Brass Band, as well as what promises to be a blockbuster fixture. Laird spoke about the brilliance of last year’s fixture, expressing that “the response was fantastic. A bumper crowd, under the floodlights definitely gave the game even more of an edge. The event with all its noise, colour, and general craziness really caught the imagination.”
The gates at the Meggetland Stadium will open at 6 pm with the kickoff occurring an hour later at 7 pm. Tickets are £5 for adults, £3 for students and are free for under 16’s; they can be purchased in advance or at the gate.
Image via Peter Laird