The 29th Pcubed Rugby League Varsity Match

Oxford Univ v Cambridge Univ
Thursday 5th March 2009
(ko 7.30pm) – live on Sky Sports

Oxford and Cambridge Universities will renew their age old sporting rivalries this coming Thursday (5th March) when they meet in the 29th Pcubed Rugby League Varsity Match at The Twickenham Stoop.

Cambridge have won 15 out of the 28 previous clashes. Oxford have 12 wins to their credit with the fixture ending in a 20-all draw in 1995.

This year’s exciting match will be televised live on Sky Sports and traditionally draws a lively crowd to the stadium which is home to Harlequins RL.

Both sides have undergone extensive preparations ahead of the game and are anxious to showcase their skills on live television. The Dark Blues took the honours last year, winning 38 – 12 but John Evans, head coach at Cambridge University says his squad can’t wait for kick-off.

“Our preparations have gone very well this year”, he explained.

“We’ve completed our BUSA obligations now and emerged as winners of the Midlands division of the Student Rugby League. This season was the first time in 10 years that we’ve won the division we’ve been competing in.

“We can now turn our attentions fully to the Pcubed Varsity match and the challenges ahead”.

Evans added, “We’ve already put the boys through a very intensive week’s camp in Carcassone and we’ve played Harlequins’ junior academy side. On top of that we’ve had our BUSA Cup games, so we’re ready for the Varsity game”.

And Evans insists the Light Blues will learn from last year’s display.

“It was a convincing score line for Oxford and they thoroughly deserved it,” he said. “However, we’ve held on to the vast core of our players so they are now more experienced and they are training harder than they ever have done. We’ve had the lads in the gym doing weights sessions at 6.30am on Friday mornings!”

Evans also believes that the Sky Sports cameras will not distract his side, with most of Cambridge’s squad familiar with the extra attention after last season.

“You hope it will stand them in good stead,” he said. “Playing at The Twickenham Stoop in floodlights can be a bit like a rabbit in the headlights and that might have happened last year.

“It’s probably going to help any players that were caught out last year by having that experience if they get selected again this time around.”

Meanwhile, Oxford University’s preparations have included a year competing in the BUSA National South Division. They won just two of their 10 games but regularly facing teams of the standard of UWIC and Loughborough Uni will have done their chances no harm.

Dan Garbutt, Oxford’s head coach, said: “We’ve been a little bit disrupted by the weather recently but that’s probably a blessing in disguise because we’ve been able to get over some little niggles.

“The lads are going well and we’re injury free at the moment. Playing in the National South division has been tough, but for most of the games we’ve been competitive and it’s good that we’ve been exposed to higher quality opposition.”

John Hobart, a veteran of 13 rugby league varsity matches and Oxford’s assistant coach, said: “It’s like a Wigan-Saints Carnegie Challenge Cup Final, or a Leeds-Bradford engage Super League Grand Final. Everybody around you wants to win and there is only one satisfactory result - winning. There is no second place and the winner takes all.”

“You can lose every game of the season, but if you win the Varsity game, then the season is judged a success.”

Oxford University’s Danny O’Driscoll is the cousin of Ireland RU skipper Brian O’Driscoll and son of British Lions RU legend, John.

For the first time ever there will also be a seconds Varsity game in 2009, with Oxford Maroons facing the Cambridge Cobras at Richmond College on 5 March, kick off 12.30pm.

Past Results Varsity Rugby League results

2008 Oxford 38 v 12 Cambridge
2007 Oxford 20 v 14 Cambridge
2006 Oxford 0 v 44 Cambridge
2005 Oxford 16 v 17 Cambridge
2004 Oxford 29 v 16 Cambridge
2003 Oxford 25 v 13 Cambridge
2002 Oxford 10 v 22 Cambridge
2001 Oxford 22 v 16 Cambridge
2000 Oxford 35 v 17 Cambridge
1999 Oxford 10 v 14 Cambridge
1998 Oxford 10 v 24 Cambridge
1997 Oxford 22 v 26 Cambridge
1996 Oxford 18 v 48 Cambridge
1995 Oxford 22 v 22 Cambridge
1994 Oxford 8 v 16 Cambridge
1993 Oxford 18 v 50 Cambridge
1992 Oxford 32 v 23 Cambridge
1991 Oxford 24 v 4 Cambridge
1990 Oxford 15 v 20 Cambridge
1989 Oxford 12 v 9 Cambridge
1988 Oxford 8 v 18 Cambridge
1987 Oxford 5 v 36 Cambridge
1986 Oxford 14 v 32 Cambridge
1985 Oxford 8 v 6 Cambridge
1984 Oxford 18 v 14 Cambridge
1983 Oxford 8 v 25 Cambridge
1982 Oxford 8 v 30 Cambridge
1981 Oxford 16 v 9 Cambridge


Squad Profiles (supplied by each competing team)

Cambridge University

Max Stechman
Position: Full Back
Age / Height / Weight: 19 yrs / 177 cm / 79 kg
College: Sidney Sussex
Course: Land Economy
School: Colchester Royal Grammar
RL Experience: Varsity (’08)

Will Brewster
Position: Wing / Full Back
Age / Height / Weight: 24 yrs / 168 cm / 76 kg
College: Downing
Course: MPhil, Environment, Society and Development
School: Stamford & Westminster
RL Experience: Varsity (’06 – for the dark blues)

Ed Wales
Position: Wing / Full Back
Age / Height / Weight: 21 yrs / 178 cm / 73 kg
College: Gonville & Caius
Course: BA, Land Economy
School: Royal Grammar School, Guildford
RL Experience: 1st Year

Varun Talwar
Position: Wing
Age / Height / Weight: 19 yrs / 175 cm / 80 kg
College: Gonville & Caius
Course: BA, Economics
School: Merchant Taylors’
RL Experience: 1st Year

Scott Wildgoose
Position: Wing
Age / Height / Weight: 20 yrs / 173 cm / 74 kg
College: Emmanuel
Course: BA, Economics
School: Longley Park 6th Form College & Ecclesfield Comprehensive
RL Experience: Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks

Ali Glass
Position: Wing / Centre
Age / Height / Weight: 22 yrs / 178 cm / 73 kg
College: Selwyn
Course: BA, Classics
School: St. Paul’s
RL Experience: Varsity (’08)

Joe Pitt-Rashid
Position: Wing / Centre
Age / Height / Weight: 20 yrs / 176 cm/ 80 kg
College: Sidney Sussex
Course: Philosophy
School: Benton Park
RL Experience: 1st Year

Angus Sanders
Position: Wing / Centre
Age / Height / Weight: 19 yrs / 188 cm / 82kg
College: Magdalene
Course: BA, Law
School: Kings College School, Wimbledon
RL Experience: 1st Year

Alex Spain
Position: Centre/ Wing
Age/Height/Weight: 19yrs/ 177cm / 78kg
College: Magdalene
Course: English
School: St. Paul’s
RL experience: 1st Year

Chris Johnstone
Position: Centre / Wing
Age / Height / Weight: 21 yrs / 178 cm / 80 kg
College: St. Johns’
Course: BA, Mathematics
School: Royal Grammar School High Wycombe
RL Experience: 1st Year

Rob Cox
Position: Centre
Age / Height / Weight: 20 yrs / 180 cm / 81 kg
College: Gonville & Caius
Course: BA, Natural Sciences
School: Fortismere
RL Experience: 1st Year

Carl Schroeder (Club Secretary)
Position: Centre
Age / Height / Weight: 23 yrs / 180 cm / 100 kg
College: Selwyn
Course: PhD, Biomedical Materials
School: Hinchingbrooke
RL Experience: Varsity (’08)

Aaron Sonenfeld
Position: Centre / Stand-off
Age / Height / Weight: 20 yrs / 180 cm / 90 kg
College: St. Johns’
Course: BA, Social & Political Sciences
School: Queen Elizabeth Boys, Barnet
RL Experience: 1st Year

Rupert Wingate Saul
Position: Scrum-half / Stand-off
Age/ Height/ Weight: 22yrs/ 178cm/ 80kg
College: Sidney Sussex
Course: BA, Manufacturing Engineering
School: Manchester Grammar
RL Experience: Varsity (’08)

James Hunt
Position: Stand-off
Age / Height / Weight: 23 yrs / 183 cm / 90 kg
College: Clare
Course: MPhil, International Relations
School: King Edward VI, Aston
RL Experience: Exeter University RL

Matthew Bray (Captain)
Position: Prop
Age / Height / Weight: 27 yrs / 180 cm / 94 kg
College: Gonville & Caius
Course: PhD, Engineering
School: Chetwynde
RL Experience: Varsity (’07, ’08) Ulverston ARLFC, Eccles and Salford Juniors ARLFC

Luke Tyson
Position: Prop
Age / Height / Weight: 21 yrs / 181 cm / 97 kg
College: Magdalene
Course: Clinical Medicine
School: Farnham College
RL Experience: Varsity (’08)

George Laing
Position: Prop
Age / Height / Weight: 20 yrs / 180 cm / 94 kg
College: Gonville & Caius
Course: BA, Medicine
School: Wells Cathedral School
RL Experience: 1st Year

Luke Barnes
Position: Prop
Age / Height / Weight: 25 yrs / 178 cm / 123 kg
College: Wolfson
Course: PhD, Astronomy
School: Coffs Harbour Christian Community High School (New South Wales, Australia)
RL Experience: Bowraville Tigers

James Shearman
Position: Prop
Age/Height/Weight: 25 yrs / 182 cm / 95 kg
College: Sidney Sussex
Course: PhD, Biochemistry
School: Arnold School, Blackpool
RL Experience: Varsity (’06, ’07, ’08), St. Ives Roosters

Ed Nimmons
Position: Prop
Age / Height / Weight: 22 yrs / 196 cm / 108 kg
College: Girton
Course: BA, Management
School: Glenalmond College & Royal Belfast Academical Institution
RL Experience: 1st Year

Paddy Hunt (Club President)
Position: Prop / Second Row
Age / Height / Weight: 20 yrs / 181 cm / 103 kg
College: Sidney Sussex
Course: BA, Economics
School: Colchester Royal Grammar
RL Experience: Varsity (’07, ’08), Colchester Romans ARLFC, Eastern Raiders ARLFC

George Sykes
Position: Hooker
Age / Height/ Weight: 22 yrs / 181 cm / 74 kg
College: Sidney Sussex
Course: BA, Engineering
School: Marlborough
RL Experience: Varsity (’08)

Freddie Humphreys
Position: Second Row
Age / Height / Weight: 20 yrs / 185 cm / 88 kg
College: Fitzwilliam
Course: BA, Geography
School: Benton Park
RL Experience: Varsity ('08), Milford Marlins ARLFC

Adam Rimmer
Position: Second Row
Age / Height / Weight: 20 yrs / 183 cm / 90 kg
College: St. Johns’
School: Stamford
RL Experience: 1st Year

Mark Sweeney
Position: Second Row
Age / Height / Weight: 24 yrs / 96 kg / 183 cm
College: Magdalene
Course: PhD, Engineering
School: Blackrock College
RL Experience: Varsity (’08)

Ignacio Quintana
Position: Second Row / Loose Forward
Age / Height / Weight: 28 yrs/ 180 cm/ 93 kg
College: Magdalene
Course: PhD, Engineering
School: Kings College St Michaels & El Romeral, Malaga.
RL Experience: Varsity (’08)

John Evans
Position: Head Coach
About: John takes charge of Cambridge for his 10th Varsity match and now works full time as head coach and general manager of the club, having coached the club on their successful tours to the USA in ‘06 and Australia in ‘08.
He has also coached South Norfolk Saints, Midlands Students and Emerging GB Students.
John also works for The RFL as a coach educator.

Brian Chambers
Position: Tour Assistant Coach
About: Brian Chambers works as a coach at Warrington Wolves and is a respected rugby league coach in Warrington and beyond. Among others, he has coached the likes of Barrie McDermott and Terry O'Connor. His presence on our January training camp in France brought great experience and passion to the sessions.

Darren Wood
Position: Team Manager
About: Darren is our ever reliable team manager. Famed for Pasta Darrenara, he is married to Nikki, with son Daniel, aged 7.

Rae Wood
Position: Team Physio
About: Rae puts up with all the moaning on the team and is responsible for the low number of injuries in the team. Her sports massage sessions are infamous!

Nick Chadd
Position: Strength & Conditioning Coach
About: Nick has implemented a new training regime that has brought big gains in the gym for all the players. He is a big fan of deadlifts.


Oxford University

Paul O’Connor
Age - 21
Position - Fullback/Wing
College - Worcester
Subject – Maths
Notable sporting achievements - 1 RL Varsity, England Rugby Union U18s

Dan Whitehouse
Age - 22
Position - Wing/Fullback
College - Univ
Subject - Engineering

George Smibert
Age - 21
Position - Centre/Prop
College - Brasenose
Sporting Achievements - 2 RL Varsities, SE England RL Squad

Pete Forster
Age - 21
Position - Centre/Second Row
College - Brasenose
Subject - English
Sporting Achievements - South of England RL, 1 RL Varsity

James Batstone
Age - 25
Position - Wing
College - Worcester
Subject - Engineering
Sporting Achievements - 2 RL Varsities

Will Lough
Age - 22
Position - Pivot
College - Trinity
Subject - History

Harold Buchanan
Age - 22
Position - Pivot
College - St Edmund Hall
Subject - History and Politics
Sporting Achievements - Lancashire Schoolboys, 2 Colleges XV varsities

Paddy Boyle
Age - 20
Position - Prop
College - Lady Margaret Hall
Subject - Chemistry
Sporting Achievements – England U18s RU

Josh Venner
Age - 21
Position - Hooker
College - Wadham
Subject - Engineering
Sporting Achievements - Minehead Barbarians, OURFC U21s

Anthony Bradley
Age - 20
Position - Prop
College - Univ
Subject - Chemistry
Sporting Achievements - 1 RL Varsity

Phil Satterthwaite
Age - 22
Position - Second Row
College - St Edmund Hall
Subject - Geography
Sporting Achievements - 1 Colleges XV Varsity

Danny O’Driscoll
Age - 24
Position - Second Row/Loose Forward
College - St Catherine’s
Subject - Medicine
Sporting Achievements - 2 RL Varsities

Hugh McCormick
Age - 24
Position - Loose Forward
College - Lincoln
Subject - Politics
Sporting Achievements - OURFC Greyhounds, England U16a

Sam Whitehead
Age - 23
Position - Prop
College - Somerville
Subject - Physics
Sporting Achievements - NZ Aussie Rules International

Charles Rowe
Age - 19
Position - Second Row
College - Exeter
Subject - Chemistry
Sporting Achievements - 1 RL Varsity

Ed Bloch
Age - 21
Position - Second Row/Loose Forward
College - Jesus
Subject - Medicine

Danny Soos
Age - 21
Position - Prop/Second Row
College - Worcester
Subject - Engineering

Quentin MacFarlane
Age - 21
Position - Hooker/Utility Back
College - Exeter
Subject - PPE

Ben Calverley
Age - 18
Position - Hooker/Pivot
College - Brasenose
Subject - Maths