The Vice-Chancellor’s Cup (VC’s Cup) has once again brought staff together from across the University for a tournament of fun, friendly and inclusive competition.
The VC’s Cup is an inter-departmental tournament for University of Kent staff, giving departments from across the University the opportunity to compete against one another in a wide variety of games, sports and activities.
2025–26 Overview
The competition ran from January to September 2026, with events taking place every few weeks. Nine teams battled it out in this year’s VC’s Cup, with teams representing a fantastic range of directorates, including Campus Services, Information Technology Services, Student Life, Governance and Assurance, Strategic Planning and Business Development and Research.
From korfball to board games, and archery tag to pickleball, there was something for everyone to get involved in, regardless of their level of sporting experience.
A particular highlight of the year was a trip to Boom Battle Bar, where staff enjoyed an action-packed evening of pub games, followed by the annual It’s a Knockout event, which tested everyone’s teamwork and communication skills through a series of fun challenges.
The inclusion of board games and sports day challenges in the spring proved to be a crowd favourite once again, giving staff the opportunity to take part in a range of fun and inclusive activities. Following the summer favourites, garden games and rounders, the tournament concluded with a pub quiz at Woody’s.
After many weeks of competition, we can congratulate Last Ones Standing, who were crowned winners of the 2025–26 edition of the Cup!
2025-26 Final Standings
| Final Points | ||
| 1 | Last Ones Standing | 250 |
| 2 | Marlowes Marauders | 238 |
| 3 | BDRI Bunch | 223 |
| 4 | PIINATS | 218 |
| 5 | Winter Soldiers | 210 |
| 6 | Flu Fighters | 197 |
| 7 | Ctrl+Alt+Win | 154 |
| 8 | U Bunch O’Kents | 139 |
| 9 | Liquorice All Sports | 123 |
The VC’s Cup is coming back!
The competition will start again in November, with a new programme of games and sports planned for the next VC’s Cup. We would love to see your department get involved!
There will be lots of new activities and challenges to try, alongside some familiar favourites. You don’t have to be sporty to come along, as the VC’s Cup is designed to be fun, inclusive and accessible to everyone!
Why take part?
Attendees have consistently told us how much they enjoy taking part in the VC’s Cup, with many highlighting the positive impact it has on their experience of working at the University.
Taking part in the Vice-Chancellor’s Cup is a great way to get active, meet colleagues and try something new. Whether you’re a regular sportsperson or just looking for a fun way to get involved, there are plenty of benefits:
- It’s free to take part – event attendance and team entry are free of charge.
- Everyone is welcome – whether you’re a seasoned sportsperson or completely new to the activity, there’s a place for you.
- Support your wellbeing – enjoy fun, social and inclusive activities that can help you stay active and support your wellbeing.
- Meet colleagues across the University – compete alongside and against colleagues from different teams, departments and services.
- Socialise beyond the office – joining a team is a fun way to spend time with colleagues outside your usual working environment.
- Fit it around your schedule – there’s no need to attend every event. Take part in as many or as few as you like.
How to get involved?
We welcome both new and existing teams to get involved in the VC’s Cup. Starting a team is easy, you only need two staff members to get going, and there’s no limit on how many colleagues can join.
So whether you already have a team ready to go or want to bring some colleagues together for the first time, there’s plenty of room for everyone to get involved.
If this sounds like something you’d like to be part of, why not get your department involved? Please complete the VC’s Cup interest form to register interest.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please email sportsdevelopment@kent.ac.uk. You can visit the VC’S Cup Webpage for more information and reports from the year.