Exeter College students to compete in university real tennis matches

Two Exeter College students will represent Oxford in this year’s Varsity Real Tennis matches against Cambridge, continuing the College’s strong connection to one of the University’s oldest sports. 

Hannah Wilson Kemsley (2022, Earth Sciences) and Cordelia Lamming (2023, Literae Humaniores) will compete in the Blues match, held at Lord’s on 27–28 February 2026. The Second Team Varsity match will take place in Oxford, at the historic Merton Street court – the second-oldest real tennis court in the country. 

Real tennis, the centuries-old predecessor of lawn tennis and squash, is a fast-paced and tactical indoor sport. Its courts are uniquely designed, with sloping roofs, angled walls, and galleries that make each game distinct. Oxford’s court on Merton Street is home to a growing community of students, staff, and locals – many of whom are introduced to the sport through relaxed Sunday evening social sessions. 

As women’s captain, Hannah is keen to encourage more newcomers to get involved. “Whether you’ve played before or not, it’s an incredibly welcoming environment – most people are hooked after their first few sessions.” 

Exeter also has long-standing alumni links to the sport. Maggie Henderson-Tew (2012, MSt Literature and Arts) founded the Exeter College Real Tennis Club in 2015. She and her husband, former World Champion Chris Ronaldson, have since helped establish or restore courts across the UK, France, and Australia – most recently reviving a historic club in Ballarat, the oldest real tennis site in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Interested in trying Real Tennis?
Find out more via the Oxford University Tennis Club website, or contact the Exeter College Real Tennis Club for details about membership and court access. 

Hannah Wilson Kemsley (2022, Earth Sciences) winning the women’s Silver Goblet.

Maggie Henderson-Tew (2012, MSt Literature and Arts) and the Blues team from 2015.