The Varsity Challenge was held on Saturday, 6th December at the StoneX Stadium.
An annual tradition in the lead-up to the Varsity Matches, the challenge saw all 4 team captains come together as the losing captain from the previous year issues the challenge to the opposing captain. This year’s challenge took place during the half-time period in Saturday’s Saracens match against ASM Clermont Auvergne, where the packed-out StoneX served as an invigorating reminder of the grand scale and atmosphere of the day itself.
CURUFC Women’s Captain Phoebe Jackson gave the following report on the day’s proceedings:
On Saturday 6th December, ten returning Blues players from the men’s and women’s sides headed down to StoneX Stadium for this year’s Varsity Match Challenge. The light blues lined up against the Other Place for a stare down just as cold as the five-degree December temperatures. As the home team this year, Oxford issued the Challenge to compete for the 39th Women’s and 144th men’s Varsity Match titles, which George and I accepted, stepping forward to secure our matches with firm handshakes. All attention now turns to the 28 February.
