Run by students for students
Sports clubs and societies at Mansfield are run jointly between undergraduates in the Junior Common Room (JCR) and postgraduates in the Middle Common Room (MCR).
Societies
Joining student-run societies helps you connect with your fellow students over things you’re interested in.
Current societies at the College include music, art, film (with a weekly screening), Mansfield Christian Union, and even a society for chicken (and plant-based) nuggets.
Many academic subjects hold special dinners and speaker events you can attend as well.
Drama at Oxford is thriving and varied
Productions are usually intercollegiate, including everything from experimental student-authored work to established dramas, comedy, and musical theatre. Many famous names in the world of television, film, and theatre were first seen treading the boards in Oxford.
OUDS, the University drama society, is a centralised source of help and information, and Mansfield’s own Drama Society regularly puts on productions. So whether you want to act, direct, or offer technical support, there is no reason not to dive in and get started – there are lots of great opportunities to gain experience in theatre, meet new people and try different things.
Mansfield has an active music life
There are concerts throughout the academic year, which bring together the chapel choir and College instrumentalists in the performance of many different styles of music, and students also lead a popular Christmas carol service. The College chapel has a wonderful acoustic. A fine piano and organ are available for student use, but students are also most welcome to take their own instruments into the chapel for practice.
"Being part of the choir and wind ensemble – there is such a sense of community, and I’ve made so many friends at different stages of their journey (freshers, postgrads, visiting students from other countries, etc.). I also got the opportunity to sing a solo at the start of the college carol service, to a room packed full of people, which was a really special moment for me."
Sports
Sport is a great way to get to know people at other colleges, and Mansfield’s smaller size makes sport very accessible. Anyone who wants to play is very welcome, and everyone can find a game at some level – racquet sports, netball, and hockey, to football, boating, rugby, and cricket. Plus yoga and Pilates.
Sports facilities
Mansfield is fortunate to share the fine Merton sports grounds which are located just eight minutes’ walk from the college, behind St. Catherine’s College. Tennis and squash courts are available on the same site.
The size of Mansfield’s main quad makes for one of the best croquet lawns in the University and there’s a much-used pool table and equally popular table tennis set in the JCR.
"I’m a member of the Mansfield-Merton Women’s Football team. My brilliant friend Zahra asked me to come along to a trial session with her – everyone was kind, friendly and the on and off pitch banter provided a welcome distraction to the stresses of first year. Since I started playing, I’ve been lucky enough to attend the Women’s Euros final in 2022 (one of the best days of my life) and, alongside my beloved Norwich City (up the canaries) I’ve started following Chelsea Women’s team too. I’ve made loads of friends as well."
Team competitions and friendlies
Many Mansfield teams, or teams formed jointly with Merton, play in the inter-college ‘cuppers’ competitions, but there are many friendly matches too. And, if your sport isn’t one we regularly compete in, find some like-minded people and start a team – when this happened in basketball we won cuppers!
Also, everyone should try rowing at Oxford at least once. Luckily for Mansfield College Boat Club, that’s usually enough for most people to catch the boating bug! Very few students coming to Mansfield have had much rowing experience, allowing many novices the opportunity to row at a high level within a term of taking up the sport. The major competitions include Christ Church Regatta for novices in Michaelmas Term and the ‘bumps races’ (where boats aim to catch each other up, rather than rowing side by side) – Torpids and Summer Eights – in Hilary and Trinity Terms respectively.
Societies and Sports
Representing the University
For those with serious talent, University trials offer the route to representing the University in a wide range of sports. Though, most major sports have two or more teams, so you can play for the University at various levels even if you are not ‘Blues’ standard.
