The West Cup: The Birthplace of Water Polo Cup Competitions

The West Cup stands as one of the most remarkable artefacts in world water polo—a trophy whose history is woven directly into the origins of the sport itself. First played for in 1886, the competition began life as the Association of Swimming Clubs Glasgow Aquatics Football Challenge Cup. Its inaugural champions, West of Scotland Swimming Club, competed under the Scottish Rules devised by William Wilson, the Glasgow innovator widely recognised as the father of modern water polo. Wilson’s rules, emphasising structured play, passing, and athletic movement, were soon adopted internationally and remain the backbone of the sport today.

The significance of the West Cup extends far beyond Glasgow. World Aquatics credits Scotland with hosting the world’s first National Water Polo Championship in 1886. With clubs from Dundee and Dunfermline joining the Association of Swimming Clubs Glasgow that same year, the West Cup can be considered Scotland’s first National Water Polo Championship—and by extension, one of the earliest organised Water Polo Competitions anywhere in the world. Its legacy predates major International Tournaments by decades, marking Scotland as a foundational force in shaping the global game.

That legacy continues today.

Come along to Strathclyde Sport on Friday 20 February 2026 at 19:30 to witness the latest edition of this historic competition, as the University of Strathclyde face Stirling WPC.
More than just a match, it’s a living link to the sport’s origins—a modern contest played for a trophy that helped define water polo itself. Two ambitious teams, one storied cup, and nearly a century and a half of history behind it. It promises to be a night worthy of the legacy.