CURUFC was devastated to learn of the death of Nick Koster, 2018 men’s captain and former Co-Chair, on 11 July.
Nick arrived in Cambridge in 2017, joining Queens’ College to read for a Master’s degree in Social Innovation. Following a successful professional career with the Stormers, Bath and Bristol, Nick played his final two seasons of rugby at CURUFC while completing his studies.
At CURUFC, Nick rediscovered his love for the amateur values of the sport to which he had dedicated so much of his life. In his own words:
‘At CURUFC, the amateur values of the game are what everything centres around and I think that’s why we love the experience so much. It combines the amateur values of the game with everything that makes it beautiful in the professional sense. I think that’s why this is such a unique experience when you couple history and tradition in with all of that.’
Nick earned his first Blue playing in the second row in the December 2017 men’s Varsity Match. Captained by Nick’s close friend and Bristol teammate Charlie Amesbury, the CURUFC men lifted the trophy for the second year in a row, with a decisive 20-10 victory.
Following that win, Nick was elected 2018 men’s captain. He was an inclusive and approachable leader who steered his team with dedication and good humour. Committed to ensuring that CURUFC players have access to top class training facilities, Nick led fundraising efforts to build a new gym at Grange Road, working closely with his friend and later colleague Anton Price. The 2018 CURUFC men’s squad were disappointed to lose their Varsity Match 38-16, including a hard fought second half try at Twickenham from Nick.
Alongside Jess Tayenjam, Nick took on the role of Co-Chair in 2021, stepping down in March 2023. He was instrumental in shaping the club’s vision to deliver the best student rugby experience in the world, and he played a vital role in galvanising players, alumni, and sponsors around that goal.
Nick was also a director of the Varsity Match Company Ltd, working tirelessly over the course of the 2022-23 season to lead sales efforts for the 2023 Varsity Matches and ensure a great fan and player experience at Twickenham.
Nick’s kindness, humility, curiosity, and passion will be deeply missed by all at CURUFC. Our thoughts are with Nick’s family and all those who knew and loved him.