The University of Birmingham Women’s Rugby Team makes an historic trip to Twickenham today (Wednesday 26 April) when, for the first time ever, they will compete in the final of the British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) Rugby Championships.
Birmingham will battle against University of Wales Institute Cardiff (UWIC) at the home of English Rugby Union for the esteemed title of BUSA Champions. In recent years this final has been dominated by UWIC and Loughborough, so breaking their stronghold is a huge achievement in itself and reflects the progression of the Birmingham team.
Following a tough semi-final against the University of Leeds last month where they came away with a 14-8 win, the women now face a challenge against a determined UWIC who are the beaten finalists of last year.
Former Welsh Rugby International and the University of Birmingham coach Bess Evans has been working with the squad for a number of years.
Bess comments:
“Getting to the BUSA final is a culmination of four years long, hard work and a testament to the variety of different players involved since I started. The contribution has been consistent over this time and reaching this stage is one of my dreams and ambitions fulfilled, the next one being to bring away a victory. It’s down to a team effort though, not a single individual, it’s the power of the team and a philosophy in which I very strongly believe; you have to work together to succeed.”
The coach-loads of University Sport Birmingham supporters will be giving the women all the encouragement they can at the prestigious stadium, with hope of being there to witness them raising the trophy aloft at the end of the match.
ENDS
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Notes to Editors:
British Universities Sports Association (BUSA)
The British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) is the governing body of student competitive sport. It organises the inter-university sports programme nationally, as well as co-ordinating the UK representative team for the World University Championships and World University Games. For more information visit: http://www.busa.org.uk
Further information:
Rachel Robson – Head of News Team, University of Birmingham
mob: 07789 921165 / email: r.a.robson@bham.ac.uk