Sports editor Joel Lim and staff writer Kamal Maru cover KCLRFC’s recent squad announcement ceremony.
Excitement in the squad has reached its apogee in the lead up to Varsity, as the Edmund J Safra lecture theatre was lit by a buzz of electrifying energy from the start of the event all the way to the very end. Isaac, vice captain of KCLRFC, summed up the team’s ambitions for this year perfectly in an interview with Roar, stating that the team is ‘not only trying to stop [UCL’s] ongoing streak, but also to start our very own chapter’.
History
Varsity between KCLRFC and UCLRFC is one of London student sport’s longest-running grudge matches, with the modern series taking shape in 2004 when the fixture became the centrepiece of a dedicated London Varsity event. Since then, the rivalry has produced tight, often dramatic encounters, including a famous 14–11 King’s win at Allianz Park that sealed the London Varsity Series trophy for the university for the first time and cemented rugby as one of the week’s showcase fixtures.
Over the years, UCL have often edged the overall rugby head‑to‑head, but KCLRFC have claimed several statement victories that have swung momentum back toward the Strand, ensuring no side can ever take the fixture for granted. The game now sits at the heart of Varsity Week, drawing big crowds, alumni attention and social media noise, and every season it feels like the result says something bigger about bragging rights across the whole university rivalry.
For many of the players on the squad, March 27 will mark their Varsity debuts, a proud achievement and a testament to the hard work that they’ve put in over the course of the year. Being called up to receive their personalised kits during the squad announcement ceremony brought huge smiles to all 23 chosen players’ faces, who were greeted by roaring cheering of support from their friends and teammates. The morale of the team is sky-high and they look forward to bringing every single bit of that to the game as KCLRFC looks to take down their bitter rivals after their last win in 2016.
KCLRFC’s Squad this year
Speaking with members from the team will give you a sense that KCLRFC has a calm but confident approach to the big game this year. According to Captain Steven Coker, the team is aware that they will be playing in a ‘pressure cooker situation’ and are ready to bring the intensity and fire to the stadium.
The KCLRFC have plenty of players to look forward to. Both Steven and Isaac spoke with huge respect for their teammates, including each other, showing how tightly knit the squad is. Co-vice captain Nico Razmilovic was one of the first names to come up, with his trademark “French-style offload game” helping to make King’s a serious contender. Steven also gave shoutouts to Varsity debutants such as Andrew Lane, and Liam Record in addition to seasoned senior Theo Lepski.
Isaac told us to watch out for Ray Peh’s creative flair, the kind of player who always provides spectators with something special to enjoy. Among all the players they spoke about, they did not underestimate each other. Isaac called his captain his “personal player of the season”, praising his “scoring and jackalling” and saying “he’s basically everywhere on the pitch”. Steven did not hold back either, describing Isaac as “immense” all season long.
The Lion’s Mentality
‘The most important thing about approaching big games like this is to prepare as if it was any other game, we have emphasised being more clinical and focused on detail in the past few weeks, but the main thing remains the same.’ – Steven Coker, KCLRFC Captain.
Isaac also corroborates, mentioning that the team is going to ‘keep doing what [they] do week in week out to maintain their routine’ in the build up to the game and will continue ‘taking accountability by working outside of training’. It is thus evident that this year’s squad is oozing with confidence and ready to make the most of their upcoming historic fixture in front of a packed out Ealing Trailfinders stadium.
2016 saw KCLRFC’s 14-11 victory.
2025 saw UCLRFC’s last minute try steal the game.
What will 2026 bring? We’ll find out. All we know is the lions have got the firepower and unwavering spirit to give UCL a tough and exhilarating fight.
The squad for the Lions engaging themselves against UCL is the following:
Steven Coker (C), Isaac Hui (VC), Nico Razmilovic (VC), Alvaro Umaran, Andrew Lane, Andy Florescu, Benji Gribon, Dan Zukas, George Hudson, George Song, Henry Collins, Isadore Hart, Jerry Chan, Joshua Cribb, Liam Record, Luca Suzuki, Malcolm Bezel-Selby, Mark Jonsson, Mark Nashed, Ray Peh, Sulaymaan Samir, Teddy Gannon and Theo Lepski.
Get your tickets to the game today and we look forward to seeing you there!
