Build up to the big game – Varsity 2013!

Imperial's biggest sporting event of the year, Varsity, is coming this Wednesday 13 March.

The much-anticipated annual Varsity event is fast approaching and the rivalry between Imperial College and Imperial Medicals is really hotting up. This Wednesday will see 56 teams fight across 10 different sports to be crowned champions! Imperial has always been the overall Varsity competition winners and last year the side also took the JPR Williams Cup for the first time in 10 years. This has only served to increase this fierce rivalry further and heighten the anticipation of this year’s event. In the lead up to the largest spectator event in Imperial’s sporting calendar, the Rugby Club coaches have given us their views on their team’s progress and chances of walking away with this year’s JPR Williams Cup!

IC Coach - Richard Birkett:
A former English Rugby Union player for London Wasps in the Aviva Premiership. Birkett retired in October 2012 due to a neck injury.

“Now into my 5th season with ICURFC, working with these boys has always been an experience. I always say that for such incredibly intelligent lads where is the common sense?! But in all seriousness it never ceases to impress me how hard they work and the enthusiasm and passion with which they play. I’m always worried that with the constant turnover of players it would be hard to maintain the team atmosphere and we would be repeating ourselves year on year. But this hasn't been the case and credit has to go to all the senior players who have stepped up and taken on the enormous burden of organising a university rugby team! It's meant that we have been able to develop the team and play some really fantastic rugby which we are very proud of.

This season has been an enormous learning curve for the boys and proved to be a real eye opener for all the new lads. Taking every opportunity and playing your best for the duration is the only way to get a win in this league and unfortunately this hasn't been something we have managed so far. What has been most frustrating is that for 80% of our matches against the top sides we have been much the better team but a little inexperience has ended up costing us. However it has all served to show the boys that there is nothing to fear and that they are clearly good enough to perform in a very challenging, physical league. I hope that tonight serves as an opportunity to put into practice how much they have all learnt this season and how much they have developed as rugby players.

The JPR Williams Cup is always a huge challenge on a fantastic stage and more than anything I would love to see the boys perform to their full potential. If they do then I'm sure the result will look after itself and it will be another special night of rugby.”

ICSM Coach - Thomas Rees:
Tom is an ex-Rugby Union player for London Wasps and has represented England at senior, Under-21, Under-19, Under-18 and Under-16 levels as well as sevens. He announced his retirement due to persistent injuries on 10 March 2012.

“Having started at Imperial in October 2012 and having retired from rugby just over a year ago, it has been great for me to get involved with Imperial Medicals Rugby, with the coaching team of Tom Burwell and Will Mathews.

The season started well with a run of unbeaten games, and performances improved each week as the team started to get used to the new styles of play introduced, with the run up to Christmas particularly pleasing. Sadly, due to injuries and the demands of final year, many of the team’s senior players have been unable to turn out, robbing us of both size and experience. This, coupled with the disjointed fixture list due to the weather, has meant the results post-Christmas haven’t been as strong. The upside however is that many of the younger players in the club have been given the opportunity to step up, and in difficult circumstances have performed really well, boding well for the future.

As to the JPR Williams Cup, all of this goes out the window. The boys won’t be worried about what has gone before or may be coming up, they are completely focused for the biggest game of the season. We all know that it’s going to be a tough game, but if the lads can show the effort and endeavour they’ve displayed all season, alongside the skill and execution when they’ve been at their best, they’re in with a great shout to regain the JPR Williams trophy.”

Be part of Imperial’s largest sporting event and share your experience using #Varsity2013 on Twitter!

View the Varsity matches schedule

Collect your pre-registered tickets today from Hannah Blandford in Beit Quad (Level 2M) or from the Ethos reception.

If you haven’t yet bought a ticket, you can do so at the gate at the Twickenham Stoop Stadium. Gates open at 18.00 and kick off is at 19.30.

Click here to find out more about Varsity 2013