Rugby is due to return to Grange Road this week (subject to last minute pitch inspections!) with the LX kicking off 2024 at home to Oxford Brookes on Wednesday 17th and the Men’s Blues taking on Bristol University under the Friday night lights on the 19th. We also have a huge away game as the Women’s Blues start the year with a Varsity preview taking on Oxford University at Iffley Road in BUCS Premier South before the return fixture at Grange Road next week. The players have been keeping fit over the Christmas break and training hard. We can’t wait to get rugby started with only 7 weeks until the Varsity Matches at StoneX but please keep an eye on our social channels to check whether the games do go ahead.
With Varsity in mind, this week we spoke to two former CURUFC players who have also played for Saracens to hear their thoughts on this year’s Varsity Matches. Coreen Grant (Corpus Christi, 2019) and Charlie Watson (Selwyn, 2019) both played in the Varsity Matches in 2019 and have played for Saracens first teams at the StoneX stadium.
Coreen is currently part of the Saracens first team and has 7 caps for Scotland. She is best remembered at Cambridge for her match-winning try in the 2019 victory for the Women’s Blues 8-5 over Oxford (if you need reminding, you can check out her try here 76 minutes into the match). She writes:
“The Varsity match is a unique rugby tradition in that it affords university athletes the opportunity to perform in national stadiums and in front of serious crowds. In 2019 we lifted the trophy at Twickenham Stadium, which was an unforgettable experience for everyone involved. The match itself is steeped in history, and what’s particularly special about Varsity is the way that alumni, current students and previous Blues get behind the team – it’s always bigger than the players on the pitch, and the atmosphere at the match is phenomenal, with chants being thrown back and forth.
There’s a great rivalry between the two sides (GDBO!), but ultimately the occasion is a brilliant advert for women’s rugby and growing the game. Some of the Blues on the team with me only started playing rugby at Cambridge, so it’s fantastic that girls joining university can see a clear pathway from picking up the sport to playing at a high level. Since graduating from Cambridge I’ve been playing for Saracens and Scotland, but the Varsity match will always be a special rugby memory for me. To see it come to StoneX is really exciting, and from my perspective of playing there currently, I think the stadium will be a fantastic venue for the event.”
Charlie played for Saracens, making 8 first team appearances, also earning a cap for England U20s. He played in the 2019 Varsity Match when CURUFC took home a 15-0 win, the first time Oxford failed to score a point in 34 years, on a rainy day in December. He went on to captain the club in 2021/22. He writes:
“Having played professionally for Saracens for four years, I am very excited for the VM to be moving to the StoneX stadium. Aside from looking forward to seeing familiar faces, the StoneX is a brilliant venue, and I know that Saracens will be excellent hosts. My experiences of playing at the StoneX were amazing; the atmosphere was always electric, and with the artificial grass, the game promises to be fast-paced and exciting.
I loved my time playing for Cambridge, it meant everything to pull on the Cambridge jersey and I cherish every moment of my 3 years with the Light Blues. The aura of the big game at the end of the season made the journey towards it extremely special for me. Building towards the collective goal of winning Varsity made the squads I was a part of exceptionally tight and allowed for us all to develop some incredibly strong friendships. Playing in Varsity against such a bitter rival is unparalleled. While the match’s intensity can be likened to that of a Premiership match, its passion and competitiveness are unrivalled. The mere thought of the Varsity Match gets my adrenaline going, and I envy the lucky few who will represent us on the 2nd of March.
I look forward to seeing you all there, GDBO”
We can’t wait to carry on building our relations with Saracens on March 2nd. Remember you can buy your tickets below:
1. Past players
2. CURUFC Members & Supporters
3. Students
4. Hospitality – we have now sold out of all boxes but still have a few options including the W Club and The Park, which is great value for an all inclusive package for only £118.
Coach tickets from Cambridge can be bought here and parking passes are also available.
In the meantime we wish both Blues teams and the LX the best of luck with their games this week. See you at Grange Road!
All the best,
Jess, CURUFC Chair
