Established in 2006, the annual boat race sees students from Wales' two premier rowing Universities go head to head in the battle for the title of Welsh Varsity Boat Race Champions.

The day will see four races rowed between competing eights, beginning with the Novice Women’s VIII and Novice Men's VIII races (for those in their first year of rowing) at 12:25pm and 1:25pm respectively, followed by the Senior Women’s First VIII at 2:25pm, and culminating with the showdown between the Senior Men’s First VIII at 3:25pm.

The races are rowed on the lower reaches of the River Taff, from Penarth Road Bridge to Cardiff Bay, over a distance of approximately two kilometres. The best vantage points for spectators to view the races include Clarence Road Bridge and Embankment and at the finish line at Channel View Centre on Jim Driscoll Way, Cardiff Bay.

Phoebe Wright, President of Swansea University Rowing Club, said: “Competition between the two clubs for the Welsh Varsity Boat Race Champions title is always intense – and this year won’t be any different.

“The teams have been training hard in preparation of this event and the Boat Race promises to provide both competitors and audiences alike with a day of thrilling racing.

“Cardiff, racing on home water, won all four races last year, but the Swansea squads have been putting plenty of hours of training in both on the water and in the gym so will be fighting hard to defeat the reigning champions on April 5.”

The Welsh Varsity Boat Race, supported by Welsh Rowing (the governing body for the sport of rowing in Wales), marks the start of the annual Welsh Varsity games.

The games are Wales’ biggest student sporting event and the second largest of the British varsity games, behind Oxford and Cambridge.

The majority of the Welsh Varsity games take place on Wednesday, April 9, culminating with the Rugby Match at the Millennium Stadium, starting at 7:30pm.  

Follow Swansea University Rowing Club on Twitter @SwanseaUniRC; the Welsh Varsity Boat Race on Twitter @WelshBoatRace