University Rugby

Whilst it is the top division of university rugby which often grabs the headlines, Talking Rugby Union has been closely monitoring the progress of Manchester Metropolitan University as they continue their journey to the summit of the student game.

Gloucester pairing Harry Fry and Stephen Varney are two of Hartpury University’s most recent stars and they are hoping to follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before them.

Currently there are no Scottish university sides in the BUCS Super Rugby competition, but two players who have represented the Scots internationally at various levels impressed during the 2019/20 campaign.

Loughborough's season of celebration has hardly ended in the way that they imagined due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Joe Harvey has looked into what makes the institution so successful.

For now, there is no BUCS Championship final to look forward to for Edinburgh University women’s squad given the current situation which goes far beyond rugby, but they can still look back on a positive 2019/20 with pride.

After helping their respective universities reach the BUCS Super Rugby final last season, Chester Duff and James Forrester now find themselves in National One with Birmingham Moseley.

This season's BUCS Championship finals at the Ricoh Arena have been suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak.

With the Six Nations having prematurely ended for Ireland this season, Ireland U20s centre Dan Kelly spoke to Talking Rugby Union about fitting in with the Ireland squad and playing for Loughborough University.

Alex Keay has admitted the hunger expressed by his Durham players to build on their successful BUCS Super Rugby domestic campaign can fuel a run to the Championship final.

Charlie Venables' rugby journey has certainly been an interesting one. At the age of 23, he has already represented England Counties U20s, England Universities Sevens and Sale Sharks in the Premiership 7s, whilst also been an ever-present in Leeds Beckett's BUCS Super Rugby side.

BUCS Super Rugby leaders Durham maintained their good post-Christmas form with yet another win. Beating the University of Bath 38-0 in Somerset, Exeter moved to second in the league after a last-minute winner over Cardiff secured them five points.

A late penalty try helped Durham University defeat title rivals Leeds Beckett as the North-East side moved five points clear at the top of BUCS Super Rugby.

England U20s kicked off their Six Nations campaign with a win over France and the University of Bath's Max Ojomoh is continuing to take everything in his stride.

In recent years, Scotland have had a number of sisters playing for the women’s national team - the McMillans and the Nelsons immediately spring to mind - and now the Law siblings could be set to join that exclusive club.

The headlines from Eddie Jones' Six Nations squad announcement may have surrounded Saracens and the salary cap saga, but for TRU, there was a name on the apprentice list which grabbed the attention.

The BUCS Super Rugby competition resumes later this month and continues to go from strength-to-strength, according to Durham University Director of Rugby Alex Keay.

In just over three weeks time, the best young players from Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales, France and Italy will begin to battle it out in the under-20 Six Nations.

It is fitting that in a week where the University of Exeter had a very positive result in BUCS Super Rugby that one of their alumni is continuing to make his way in the professional game.

Speaking in the wake of their heart-breaking loss to South Korea, Hong Kong Sevens player and former University of Bath student Hugo Stiles chatted to Joe Harvey.

BUCS Super Rugby table toppers Durham University remain in control of the division after a bonus-point win over Swansea University.