Cardiff University are pleased to announce the return of international volleyball to Wales as they once again host the Celtic Student Nations Volleyball Tournament in March 2026.
As the only international student representative tournament, not just in Wales but also the UK, the best players from each university in Wales are selected to represent Welsh Universities (pictured) taking on their counterparts from Scotland, the Republic of Ireland and N.Ireland/QUB.
This years sees an expanded tournament with eight teams – two pools of four including men’s and women’s teams from top UK universities Oxford and Cambridge, last years VolleyballEngland Student Cup winners – Brunel, and an invite team – Bath Uni men plus a national league representative – Team South Wales women.
With the addition of S.Ireland Students plus 2025 Student Cup winners Brunel, the prestige of the tournament continues to grow and the profile will be further enhanced in 2027 when we anticipate VolleyballEngland U18’s will join the competition.
Last years women’s winners, Cambridge University, begin the defence of their title on the afternoon of Friday 20th March while the men’s champions – Scottish Students start their campaign on the Saturday morning at the Cardiff University sports village of Tal-y-bont (12 Bevan Place, CF14 3UX)
The three day competition culminate with the men’s and women’s finals on Sunday (22nd March) afternoon.
Spectators are welcome free of charge but for those who are not able to make it to the venue this years tournament will also be live streamed thanks to Carl Harwood and Cardiff Beach Volleyball at: https://youtube.com/@cardiffbeachvolleyball3418?si=bqSJ87Pxa0yG8RpR
Pool A Pool B
Brunel University Republic of Ireland Universities (Eire)
Cambridge University Oxford University
QUB/N.Ireland Welsh Universities
Scottish Students Invite – Team South Wales (women)/Bath University (men)
FRIDAY 20TH MARCH 2026
MENS WOMENS
1.30 pm : Bath v Wales (TBC) # # # TSW v Wales # # #
@2.30 pm : Eire v Oxford (Wales) QUB/N.Ire v Cambridge (Wales)
@3.45 pm : QUB/N.Ire v Cambridge (Oxford) Eire v Oxford (Cambridge)
SATURDAY 21ST MARCH 2026
# # # # # # # # 1st game will have shared net time from 8.45am
MENS WOMENS
9.00am : Scotland v Brunel (Eire) Scotland v Brunel (Wales)
@10.00 : Wales v Oxford (Scotland) Eire v TSW (Scotland)
@11.15 : Eire v Bath (Wales) Oxford v Wales (TSW)
@12.30 : Cambridge v Scotland (Bath) QUB/N.Ire v Brunel (Oxford)
@ 1.45 : QUB/N.Ire v Brunel (Cambridge) Scotland v Cambridge (Brunel)
@ 3.00 : Bath v Oxford (QUB/N.Ire) Eire V Wales (Scotland)
@ 4.15 : Eire v Wales (Bath) Oxford v TSW (Eire)
@ 5.30 : Brunel v Cambridge (Wales) QUB/N.Ire v Scotland (Wales)
@ 6.45 : QUB/N.Ire v Scotland (Brunel) Brunel v Cambridge (QUB/N.Ire)
SUNDAY 22ND MARCH 2026
Games will be the same for men and women on both courts with places 5-8 matches being best of 2 sets
9.00am : 3rd Pool A v 4th Pool B (4th pool A) best of 2 sets
@ 9.45 : 3rd Pool B v 4th Pool A (winner game 1 above) best of 2 sets
@ 10.30 : Semi 1 – 1st Pool A v 2nd Pool B (winner game 2 above) best of 3 sets
@11.45 : Semi 2 – 1st Pool B v 2nd Pool A (winner semi 1) best of 3 sets
@ 1.00 : 7/8 place (winner semi 2) best of 2 sets
@ 1.45 : 5/6 place (7th place) best of 2 sets
@ 2.30 : 3/4 place (5th place) best of 3 sets
@ 3.45 : Finals (3rd place) best of 3 sets
PRESENTATIONS
Bernie Bond andyw07@msn.com
