Big Blue is ours: Monash reclaims Varsity Challenge after five years

After five years, Team Monash has reclaimed the Big Blue Varsity Challenge, defeating the University of Melbourne in a year-long battle for university sporting bragging rights.

The 2026 Big Blue campaign saw Monash and Melbourne go head-to-head across 23 sporting events throughout the year, with every competition contributing to the final result. When the dust settled, Monash had come out on top, winning 14 events to Melbourne’s 9 and bringing the Big Blue title back to Monash for the first time since 2021.

The victory is a significant achievement for the hundreds of student-athletes who represented Monash throughout the year. Across a range of sports, teams competed with determination and pride, producing a series of memorable performances and some incredibly close finishes.

Among the highlights were a dominant 11-0 victory in women’s soccer, a 10-4 win in men’s touch rugby, and narrow victories in women’s basketball, 69-68, and mixed netball, 37-35. Monash also secured wins in both men’s and women’s tennis, mixed ultimate frisbee and mixed golf as part of its overall winning campaign.

Monash University Sport Director Brett Lavale said the victory was a significant moment for the university’s sporting community.

‘To reclaim the Big Blue trophy after five years is an incredible achievement and a great reflection of the talent, determination and commitment of our student-athletes. Every Monash team that competed throughout the competitions this year played an important role in the final result, and we are incredibly proud of everyone who represented Monash and helped bring the title home.’

While there is plenty to celebrate, the Big Blue victory marks the beginning of another major challenge for Team Monash.

The next challenge: UniSport Nationals in Perth

The focus now turns to UniSport Nationals in Perth, where more than 410 Monash student-athletes will take on competitors from universities across Australia.

Monash will send 37 teams across 24 sports, supported by more than 20 coaches, physios, officials and other support staff. Together, they will form one of the largest Team Monash contingents of the year, representing the university on the national stage.

For the athletes competing, Nationals is the culmination of months of training, preparation and competition. It is an opportunity to test themselves against some of the best university athletes in Australia, compete for national titles and create another chapter in the Team Monash story.

The momentum from Big Blue will now travel west, with the team looking to carry the same determination and competitive spirit into a week of national competition.

After five years, Monash has reclaimed Big Blue. Now, the challenge is bigger.

It’s time to take the blue to Perth.

Follow Team Monash throughout UniNats for team announcements, athlete stories, results, behind-the-scenes content and updates from Perth.

Monash won 14 of the 23 events contested throughout the 2026 Big Blue Varsity Challenge.

  • T20 Cricket: Melbourne 111/5 def. Monash 108/8
  • Men’s Basketball: Melbourne 85 def. Monash 79
  • Women’s Basketball: Monash 69 def. Melbourne 68
  • Men’s AFL: Melbourne 79 def. Monash 22
  • Men’s Soccer: Monash 3 def. Melbourne 2
  • Women’s Soccer: Monash 11 def. Melbourne 0
  • Mixed Ultimate Frisbee: Monash 15 def. Melbourne 10
  • Men’s Touch Rugby: Monash 10 def. Melbourne 4
  • Women’s Touch Rugby: Monash 5 def. Melbourne 2
  • Men’s Hockey: Melbourne 4 def. Monash 1
  • Mixed Netball: Monash 37 def. Melbourne 35
  • Women’s Hockey: Melbourne 3 def. Monash 0
  • Men’s Tennis: Monash 2 def. Melbourne 1
  • Women’s Tennis: Monash 2 def. Melbourne 1
  • Men’s Volleyball: Melbourne 2 def. Monash 0
  • Women’s Volleyball: Melbourne 2 def. Monash 1
  • Mixed Golf: Monash 4 games def. Melbourne 3 games
  • Men’s Squash: Melbourne 2 (111 points) def. Monash 2 (109 points)
  • Women’s Squash: Melbourne 3 def. Monash 1
  • Women’s Table Tennis: Monash 2 def. Melbourne 1
  • Men’s Table Tennis: Monash 2 def. Melbourne 1
  • Women’s Badminton: Monash 2 def. Melbourne 0
  • Men’s Badminton: Monash 2 def. Melbourne 0