News Editor Imogen Dixon reports on this year’s London Varsity rugby matches.
The final fixtures of the 2024 Varsity season followed the confirmation of King’s College London’s (KCL’s) overall loss to University College London (UCL). This meant there was nothing to lose for the women’s (KCLWRFC) and men’s (KCLRFC) rugby teams as they faced their UCL opponents.
Before the match on 18 March, KCLWRFC were preparing to expect the unexpected, as last year’s Varsity match ended in a nail-biting win for King’s. The spectators in the stands were energetic and, with the help of the KCL Lions Cheerleading team, were supporting the squad.
Both spectators’ and participants’ nails remained intact, however. By the end of the first half, KCLWRFC were 20-0 up, maintaining the lead to the finish. Whilst UCL managed to score a try in the second half of the match, they were unable to convert it, and the game ended 20-5 to KCL.
Scrum half and Vice President Molly Smyth said the game was “so fun”. She added, “Everyone played so good, I wasn’t worried about anyone.” For those who played their last Varsity match this year, the win was also an emotional one.
The men’s match followed swiftly after, along with a boost in crowd numbers. Both the crowd and KCL Lions showed their support throughout the match through various chants and cheer routines.
The match started well for KCLRFC: for the majority of the first half, King’s led 7-0. Although at first KCLRFC were believed to have scored from a penalty conversion in the first ten minutes, this was later rescinded as the ball did not pass through the posts.
In the 39 minute, however, UCL scored a try, bringing the score to 7-5 just before halftime.
UCL’s try appeared to invigorate the team; early in the second half they scored again, bringing the total to 7-10. Despite numerous attempts, KCLRFC was unable to equalise, and the match ended in a narrow defeat for the King’s men.
“Obviously it’s a tough loss for the boys to take, I can say with 100% certainty that every person that came onto that field gave 110%”, said KCLRFC Captain George Peprah. “Losing out by three points, [it being] another extremely close varsity makes it an even tougher loss to take, but I’m excited for what the future years can so with the outlook of the club looking very strong going forward.”
Following the final day of Varsity, the overall score stands at KCL 13-18 UCL. Many congratulations to UCL for winning this year’s Varsity.
