Varsity match takes centre stage

When the Oxbridge Varsity is mentioned, most people think of the Boat Races or the Men’s Rugby Varsity at Twickenham, but on Saturday 7th March, Grange Road will host the best of women’s rugby from the two Universities. The crowds may be smaller, but the passion is without question. The girls will go into Saturday knowing that this is everything, a win is everything; a season defined in 80 minutes, and this will make it a true spectacle of women’s rugby.

Although Cambridge lie in the BUCS league below Oxford, their season has been almost faultless, with the squad conceding only one try, and having not lost a match. The dark blues of Oxford have had a more difficult season battling against some of the strongest University sides in the country in the BUCS Premiership. They have been on the wrong end of some heavy score lines throughout the season, but a double victory against Chichester has secured their place in the Premiership next year.

For both teams, the battle to come out on top in the Varsity Match means more than just a victory. The ladies have battled hard for a number of years for the support of the men’s clubs at both Universities and there is still a gap to bridge. The men run out at Twickenham in front of huge crowds for their Varsity Match (televised on Sky Sports), whereas the women play between Grange Road and Iffley Road with no national coverage. The men’s Blues squad automatically receive the honour of a Full Blue, something that the women must fight for season on season. Not even a win in the biggest match of their season will guarantee this, although Cambridge look to have secured their Blues status this year on their excellent BUCS performance. Although this is true, there will be a big announcement released on the day that will significantly raise the profile of the women’s Varsity Match, and will hopefully reflect not only of the hard work of the current squads, but of all those that have gone before.

In a few days time, the two squads will step out onto the pitch at Grange Road in their most famous of colours, both ready to head into battle and both hoping to emerge as victors. More than just a rugby match, these ladies are playing for the chance to go down in history as the winners of the 2015 Varsity Match, and, as any Blue will tell you, victory is all.

Women’s Rugby Varsity Match, Grange Road, Cambridge

CUWRFC Blues vs OUWRFC Blues 2.30pm k.o.

CUWRFC Blues

Ciara Scott (Pembroke College),Jess Gurney (Newnham College),Katie Holmes (Selwyn College),Nikki Weckman (Trinity College),Jenni Sidey (Jesus College),Hannah Cooper (Fitzwilliam College),Star Hiwaizi (Queens’ College),Bryony Coombs (Emmanuel College),Molly Byrne (Jesus College),Sian McGuinness (C) (Churchill College),Helen Lambert (Selwyn College),Anna Wilson (Jesus College),Emily McNally (St. Edmund’s College),Katie Westlake (Emmanuel College),Laura Suggitt (Gonville and Caius College),Ayala Donegan (Girton College),Sonja Weigl (Christ’s College),Briony Davies (Emmanuel College),Zoe Rice-Jones (Emmanuel College),Chloe Withers (Fitzwilliam College),Charlotte Frost (St. Catherine’s College),Ada Lo (Emmanuel College)

OUWRFC Blues

HelenLamb (Trinity College),Rebecca Cavanagh (Jesus College),Jesse Van der Grient (Green Templeton College),Emily Coleridge (Lady Margaret Hall),Christina Haddad (Lady Margaret Hall),Rachel Drapper (Queens College),Anna Bidgood (St. Anne’s),Claudia Wack (Kellog College),Carly Bliss (St Edmund Hall),Catherine Wilcock (Wadham),Emily Stone (Hertford College),Tatiana Cutts (Keble College),Tess Braunerova (St Edmund Hall),Elise Nunn (Worcester College),Reem Hafez (Green Templeton College),Elizabeth Nuttall (Hertford College),Anna Maguire (Jesus College),Susannah Redmayne (St. Hilda’s),Maria Lamont (St Anne’s),Anna Herrmann (Lincoln College),Apphia Jack (New College),Caitlin McArdle (St Peter’s)