CURUFC Players at the Varsity Challenge
Varsity tickets final reminder
Please note that we are completing our seating allocation for CURUFC members next week so if you’d like to be sat with your CURUFC contemporaries then please make sure you pick up Member’s tickets by this Sunday 18th Feb. All links are below:
Past players
CURUFC Members & Supporters
Students
Hospitality
Coach tickets from Cambridge can be bought here and parking passes are also available.
Last Wednesday the Men’s Blues fell to a 31-17 loss to the British Army in a compelling game. It was the team’s first loss since Bodgers back in November. They have a chance to avenge their loss in their final game against the Armed Forces this Wednesday against the Royal Navy at Grange Road at 7.30pm The LXs took home a high-scoring 50-38 win against the Philippinnes Marharlikans on Saturday during their BUCS league off week.
The Men’s Blues in action vs the Army last Wednesday
The Women’s Blues took on Oxford University at Iffley Road in their second meeting of the season in their BUCS League. Despite leading 17-12 at 80 minutes, they conceded a try in the last play of the game to finish up 17-17. The Light Blues won their home match in January 28-26 so we’re expecting a very exciting Varsity Match on March 2nd! You can see some of the photos from the game on our Instagram and Facebook pages.
The Women’s Blues now have their final game before the big dance this Friday night at 7.30pm at Grange Road in their annual 88s match. Entry is free with a Varsity ticket or you can buy tickets for the game here. Do come on down and support them in their final send off!
Varsity Challenge
With Varsity only 18 days away the Varsity Challenge was held at the office of the matches’ main sponsor, Jefferies Investment Bank, in London on Thursday.
The event, which takes place before the game every year, saw all 4 team captains come together as the losing captain from the last year issues the challenge to the opposing captain.
We also had a guest appearance from former England international turned TV pundit, Maggie Alphonsi, appearing on a panel discussing diversity, equity & inclusion in sport and financial services at the Jefferies office in London.
A CURUFC legend reflects on the move to StoneX
Tony Rodgers studied at Trinity Hall and played in the 1968, 1969 and 1970 Varsity Matches. After graduating, the lock-forward went on to play at Rosslyn Park, represented the Barbarians and worked as a surveyor at the University. Tony took over as coach at CURUFC in 1980 and was at the helm for more than 30 years, inspiring the Light Blues to some of their most famous Varsity Match victories. Now retired, Tony remains a key figure at Grange Road. We spoke to him this week about the move away from Twickenham to Saracens StoneX Stadium.
Many old blues, friends and acquaintances (from both light and dark blue sides) have contacted me to express their great disappointment that the legendary Varsity Matches will now no longer be played at Twickenham, the home of English rugby.
It was considered a great privilege for these men and women to be able to play on the sacred turf of Twickenham. For many of them it would be their only opportunity to do so.
The Varsity Matches is one of the world’s longest running sporting fixtures. It represents the pinnacle of amateur and student rugby where 2 of the most prestigious universities in the world compete for bragging rights.
The first men’s Varsity Match was played in 1872 at the Parks at the ‘other place‘ which resulted in a narrow victory for the Dark Blues. The next year it was played on Parkers Piece which resulted in a Cambridge victory. Thereafter, it was decided that the match should be played on a neutral venue, several were used including Queens Club in London and Blackheath.
Finally as the crowds were increasing so much it was decided to relocate to Twickenham 1921 where it has been held continually (apart from the WW2 years and Covid in 2021) The first women’s match was played there in 2015.
There have been many exciting encounters at this famous ground none more so than the centenary match of 1981 which was played on a thick covering of snow. Going into that match the ‘other place‘ had been ahead in the overall victories since 1872, and in 1981 it was beautifully poised at 43 victories apiece with 13 drawn. Cambridge won 9-6 and went ahead for the very first time and have been ahead ever since! It could not have been better scripted!
The crowds have oscillated over the years peaking in 1996 where there was a world record of 66,000 for a club match. Since then for a variety of reasons the numbers have sadly dwindled. Many factors have contributed, including the advent of professionalism in 1996, the RFU staging Autumn internationals and fewer talented sportspeople getting into the university with professional clubs recruiting bright rugby players directly from school, meaning they joined academies rather than heading to university.
The combination all factors culminated in a crowd last March of less than 10.000 where Twickenham has a capacity of 82,000. The game at Twickenham was sadly no longer viable.
Both club committees have devoted a great deal of time and energy in researching alternative venues. Finally it was decided that with a lot of positive encouragement from Saracens that the Varsity Matches should be relocated to the StoneX Stadium.
So a new era of Varsity Matches are about to open up with the 142nd mens match and the 36th woman match to be played there.
It is hoped that playing these renowned annual matches at the StoneX Stadium will secure the future for generations of rugby fans.
We need in particular all those men and women who have light blue blood coursing through their veins to come along on the 2nd March to support these matches and ensure it is a day to remember for every one.
Good luck to both teams in their games this week. We hope to see you down at Grange Road!
Jess, CURUFC Chair