Oxford captain gears up for Varsity match
Oxford University captain Ben Calverley is aiming to finish his student Rugby League career with a third straight win in the Pcubed Rugby League Varsity match against Cambridge University on Thursday evening.
This week’s match at the Richmond Athletic Ground between the old rivals will be the 32nd time Oxford and Cambridge have met and Calverley is hoping the Dark Blues can make it five wins in the last six years before he bows out.
“It has been a real privilege to lead the side in my final season,” said Calverley.
“We’ve had a really good last few months and will head into the game full of confidence.”
Cambridge will be looking for a far better performance than last year when they lost 60-16 and under the guidance of new head coach Andy Champ should be well prepared as they try to win their first Varsity title since 2009.
“We have prepared really well and all the lads have developed as the season has gone on,” said Champ.
“We held a training camp in Bedford last weekend which was a real success so the squad is now ready.”
“Three or four of the lads have played in a Varsity match before so I am sure they will be passing on their experience to the rest of the squad.”
SQUADS (College in brackets)
Robbie Cowan (Exeter)
Ben Quigley (New College)
Matt Henshaw (Worcester)
Ali Shipman (St Hilda’s)
Phil Beak (St Catherine’s)
Chuky Okpalugo (Magdalen)
Ben Claxton (Brasenose)
Jack Baker (St Peter’s)
Hugo Fearon (Mansfield)
Ben Calverley (Brasenose)
Josh Halstead (St Benet’s)
Jacobus Cilliers (Balliol)
Fred Garrett (Queen’s)
Greg Coates (Brasenose)
Richard Scott (Balliol)
George Darrah (St Hilda’s)
John Bremridge (Brasenose)
Ed Dick (St Catherine’s)
Ed Cope (Somerville)
Luke Jagoe (St Peter’s)
Tom Sneddon (Queen’s)
Cambridge
James Bousher (Trinity Hall)
Aidan Devane (Christ’s)
Louis Chartres (Jesus)
Steve Gordon (Robinson)
Greg Cushing (Ridley Hall)
Rupert Grace (Selwyn)
Tom Elton (Corpus Christi)
Tim Hillel (Downing)
Fred Bromley (Magdalene)
Charlies Holland (Robinson)
Matt Commin (Robinson)
Muhammad Jaffer (Selwyn)
Harry McAleer (Clare)
George Newman (Homerton)
Nick Hewitt (Corpus Christi)
Alexander Read (Magdalene)
Rhys Hodnett (Homerton)
Craig Sturrock (Queens)
Oli Holmes (Magdalene)
Ben Wilson (St John’s)
George Laing (Gonville & Caius)
James Parker (Downing)
Chris McKeon (Gonvolle & Caius)
Hugo Severin (St Catherine’s)
James Tennison (Trinity)
Andy Winfield (St John’s)
PREVIOUS RESULTS
2011 Oxford 60 Cambridge 16
2010 Oxford 32 Cambridge 22
2009 Oxford 4 Cambridge 20
2008 Oxford 38 Cambridge 12
2007 Oxford 20 Cambridge 14
2006 Oxford 0 Cambridge 44
2005 Oxford 16 Cambridge 17
2004 Oxford 29 Cambridge 16
2003 Oxford 25 Cambridge 13
2002 Oxford 10 Cambridge 22
2001 Oxford 22 Cambridge 16
2000 Oxford 35 Cambridge 17
1999 Oxford 10 Cambridge 14
1998 Oxford 10 Cambridge 24
1997 Oxford 22 Cambridge 26
1996 Oxford 18 Cambridge 48
1995 Oxford 22 Cambridge 22
1994 Oxford 8 Cambridge 16
1993 Oxford 18 Cambridge 50
1992 Oxford 32 Cambridge 23
1991 Oxford 24 Cambridge 4
1990 Oxford 15 Cambridge 20
1989 Oxford 12 Cambridge 9
1988 Oxford 8 Cambridge 18
1987 Oxford 5 Cambridge 36
1986 Oxford 14 Cambridge 32
1985 Oxford 8 Cambridge 6
1984 Oxford 18 Cambridge 14
1983 Oxford 8 Cambridge 25
1982 Oxford 8 Cambridge 30
1981 Oxford 16 Cambridge 9
The 32nd Rugby League Annual Pcubed Varsity Match
Oxford v Cambridge
Thursday March 8
The Richmond Athletic Ground
Kick off 7.30pm