Students Rugby
College Rugby Grows
Runshaw College squad
Runshaw College in Leyland, Lancashire play in both the National Conference and North 1 of the British Colleges Sport league. Their rugby squad has grown in strength over the years and they now have more than 50 students in their rugby academy. The college’s strong links with their local rugby team, Chorley RFC, means that the teams use their excellent facilities and Runshaw students have an opportunity to play senior rugby at a local club. Said Jim Mckeown, Course tutor/Rugby coach, “I have seen the number of students playing rugby increase over the years and we have had students selected to represent the English Colleges rugby union side. This is not only positive for the college but grass roots rugby as well. We have two full rugby teams this year and we have been sponsored by an international company and the HE department of the college.” Gareth Motley (Chorley RFC Manager) “As an ex-student of Runshaw College I am delighted that we have linked up with the college. We have already had a few students attending our training sessions. This is good for the club, Runshaw College and the rugby community of Chorley.
La Coupe de l’Ovalie at Birmingham University
“La couleur, c’est le bleu! Le rugby, c’est le jeu! Rawlett allez!” (Our colour is blue! Rugby is our game! Go, Rawlett!) This was only one of the rousing chants with which supporters cheered on their team last month at the Coupe de l’Ovalie, a French language tag rugby cup at the University of Birmingham A fantastic 270 Year 9 pupils with their teachers from 10 Midlands schools joined French undergraduates from the University of Birmingham and Aston University to fight for the coveted coupe on the day before the Rugby World Cup Final in Paris. The event had been organized by the Centre for European Languages and Cultures at the University of Birmingham in collaboration with the RFU. Its aim was to enthuse pupils to learn French and to make use of their language skills by using rugby as an ‘ambassador’ for the language. Event organiser Sonja Bernhard said: “L‘Ovalie is what the French call the south-west of their country, the heartland of French rugby. It is also the term for the rugby enthusiasts’ ‘oval universe’ in general. What better name to adopt for a tournament that aims to unite the love of rugby with the love of the French language?” Fourteen pupil teams and four undergraduate sides played dynamic rugby in the 7-a-side tag tournament as their supporters cheered “Allez, allez!” and waved French banners which they had designed specially for the day. Those wanting a break from the excitement on the pitch wandered over to the skills zone where an inflatable kicking cage and a bungee run, supplied by the RFU, tested agility and strength. The final saw Kingstone High School from Hereford take on Lacon Childe School from Kidderminster, while on the other pitch “Les Grenouilles” from Birmingham fought the team from Aston for the undergraduate competition. After two fair and exciting matches, Kingstone and Birmingham were crowned French rugby kings and queens and received the winning cups. Thibaut Irissou, teaching fellow in the French Department at Birmingham and a rugby player himself for Selly Oak, summed up the day: “Fantastic rugby and a great atmosphere! The children really gave their all to support their team. They created the buzz a great tournament needs with drums, face paint, loud chanting and colourful banners.” The Coupe de l’Ovalie was made possible by the generous support of the Rugby Football Union, University Sport Birmingham and the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.
Auld Enemies team up for Northumbria
There may be a tendency for Scotland fans to call England the auld enemy but when it comes to student rugby this is clearly not the case. Certainly not at Northumbria University in Newcastle upon Tyne where Scottish international player Suzie Newton and England World Cup finalist Katy Storie have been coaching the women’s team for a season. Their partnership has taken a team of largely newcomers to the game to a side capable of runners up spot at the Newcastle Falcons Sevens tournament. This season, with a recruitment drive at the freshers’ fair, new prospects have already shown an interest and Katy and Suzie are expecting to preside over a steadily improving squad of undergraduates.
