Ulster players Jacob Stockdale and Andrew Trimble were on hand at the Dub yesterday to help promote the first RugbyFest being organised by Queens University.
The event will take place at the Dub on October 5th and sees the restoration of the varsity match between Queen’s and University of Ulster.
With Queen’s hosting both semi finals of the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup the day with also include a women’s exhibition match, a mixed touch rugby tournament in which each squad must had a minimum of two girls and Intramural tournament for the more experienced player.
Stockdale only played a few times for Queen’s and never in a varsity match but he believes reviving the game that the likes of David Humphreys and Jeremy Davidson graced will increase the bragging rights.
“I’m maybe caught in the middle of it having played for Queen’s and studying at Jordanstown, I think it is a fantastic idea and they are looking it to be a spectacle with decent running rugby so it should be good to watch.”
“I would recommend any rugby players leaving school to consider coming to Queen’s, especially as an outside back. Queen’s are very eager to play fast flowing running rugby and if you try something that doesn’t come off you’re not going to get punished for it. They are very keen for boys to show what they can do.”
“Playing at Queen’s was a good experience, it was a great club. Unfortunately I only got to play three games for them in my first year in the academy between A’s, U20’s and I was injured. But any time I was at the club I was made to feel very welcome and it was really enjoyable rugby to play.
“It’s a nice way to ease yourself into senior rugby. Coming out of school where you have 17 or 18 year olds going into a club where there are 30-35 year olds who are part of the furniture can be quite daunting.”
Queen’s are hoping the RugbyFest can unearth the next Jack Kyle or Tommy Bowe, and Stockdale is well aware of the proud history of the club:
“It is a club with a massive amount of history. My dad tells me that when he was at university Queen’s were the team to beat and at one point they would have Irish internationals who would be playing in club games. There is quite a lot of history and it is great to see they are continuing that history and still turning out fantastic rugby players.
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The RugbyFest | Varsity 2016 is the first event in an annual series focused around grassroots rugby and promotion of the game of rugby union. It restores the tradition of the varsity match between Queen’s University and Ulster University and is part of the build up to the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2017. Tickets for the Varsity game are available at Queen’s Sport (PEC) for £5.
For more information on Queen’s rugby fest visit:
www.queenssport.com/sites/QueensSport/StudentSport/Events/RugbyFest2016/
The event will take place at the Dub on October 5th and sees the restoration of the varsity match between Queen’s and University of Ulster.
With Queen’s hosting both semi finals of the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup the day with also include a women’s exhibition match, a mixed touch rugby tournament in which each squad must had a minimum of two girls and Intramural tournament for the more experienced player.
Stockdale only played a few times for Queen’s and never in a varsity match but he believes reviving the game that the likes of David Humphreys and Jeremy Davidson graced will increase the bragging rights.
“I’m maybe caught in the middle of it having played for Queen’s and studying at Jordanstown, I think it is a fantastic idea and they are looking it to be a spectacle with decent running rugby so it should be good to watch.”
“I would recommend any rugby players leaving school to consider coming to Queen’s, especially as an outside back. Queen’s are very eager to play fast flowing running rugby and if you try something that doesn’t come off you’re not going to get punished for it. They are very keen for boys to show what they can do.”
“Playing at Queen’s was a good experience, it was a great club. Unfortunately I only got to play three games for them in my first year in the academy between A’s, U20’s and I was injured. But any time I was at the club I was made to feel very welcome and it was really enjoyable rugby to play.
“It’s a nice way to ease yourself into senior rugby. Coming out of school where you have 17 or 18 year olds going into a club where there are 30-35 year olds who are part of the furniture can be quite daunting.”
Queen’s are hoping the RugbyFest can unearth the next Jack Kyle or Tommy Bowe, and Stockdale is well aware of the proud history of the club:
“It is a club with a massive amount of history. My dad tells me that when he was at university Queen’s were the team to beat and at one point they would have Irish internationals who would be playing in club games. There is quite a lot of history and it is great to see they are continuing that history and still turning out fantastic rugby players.
---
The RugbyFest | Varsity 2016 is the first event in an annual series focused around grassroots rugby and promotion of the game of rugby union. It restores the tradition of the varsity match between Queen’s University and Ulster University and is part of the build up to the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2017. Tickets for the Varsity game are available at Queen’s Sport (PEC) for £5.
For more information on Queen’s rugby fest visit:
www.queenssport.com/sites/QueensSport/StudentSport/Events/RugbyFest2016/