Students set for kick-off
The 2010-2011 Super 8 competition featuring the very best Student Rugby League sides in the country kicks off on Wednesday October 13.
Reigning champions Leeds Metropolitan Carnegie will start as favourites alongside last year’s runners-up and bitter rivals Loughborough University, however both teams have seen many of their first team players from last year graduate.
The other educational institutes represented in the competition are Gloucester University, Edge Hill University, Northumbria University, St Mary’s College, University of Hull and the University of Central Lancashire who replace Birmingham.
Matt Jeffery, Student Rugby League Manager said: “Two of the most successful sides in the Super 8 competition over the last two seasons, Leeds Met and Loughborough are both in the process of rebuilding after seeing the majority of their first team squads graduate.
“This could allow someone such as Edge Hill, Northumbria or Gloucester to sneak in and break the monopoly that these two giants of Student Rugby League have held over the competition for the last few years.
“UCLan will be looking forward to their new challenge after gaining promotion to our flagship competition in the place of Birmingham.
“They have been rewarded for their efforts by being given access to their University’s showcase floodlit pitch for their home fixtures.”
It’s an exciting time for Student Rugby League with a big increase in the number of teams playing this season with over a dozen new teams entering the college leagues alongside a number of new 2nd and 3rd teams at existing University clubs.
New Rugby League clubs have also been set up at Essex and Derby Universities with the latter seeing over 40 members signing up to play.
The University of Gloucester have recently made Rugby League one of their focus sports giving the team access to the very best facilities and granting them a privileged status which highlights the great progress which the sport is making in the South West.
A new website dedicated to Student Rugby League www.studentrl.com has been launched just in time for the new season and will provide all news, results and fixtures information.