Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club has refused to attend an international regatta because its rowers would be housed in a hostel — while members of the men’s team were treated to a five-star resort.

Three years after the women’s Boat Race was moved to the same date and stretch of the Thames as the men’s contest and was televised, the disclosure suggests female varsity rowers are several boat lengths from achieving real equality

The club declined its invitation to the prestigious Sveti Duje regatta in Split, Croatia, last month after it discovered that for the third successive year rowers would be put up in a hostel or student accommodation. The men’s team were treated to the Le Méridien Lav, a resort with a private beach,