Oxford Brookes Uni investigates its rowing team after shocking leaked WhatsApp messages

Oxford Brookes Uni is “appalled” by leaked WhatsApp messages from their men’s rowing team.

So, a screenshot has circulated online of the Oxford Brookes University men’s rowing team’s WhatsApp group. One of the teams’ coaches found pictures of a “Personal Info/Toughness Sheet” which unknown people at the boat club had made. The “Personal Info/Toughness Sheet” includes penis-related names for members of the rowing team, and other nasty comments.

The coach sent a picture of the “Personal Info/Toughness Sheet” to the group chat, asking whoever made it to own up. The coach warned the team that if nobody comes forward, staff will have to track down the person, name and shame them, and force them to “have a period of time away from training”.

The Tab has seen photos of the WhatsApp messages and the “Personal Info/Toughness Sheet”. The top of the document says, “We see your toughness based on this year’s training so far”. It’s a list of over 50 students. They’re been grouped into different categories based on their “toughness”. The top rank is “Strong Diamond”, and only one student is in it. The others are “Rock Hard”, “Stainless Steel”, “Morning Wood”, “The Semis” and “Sponge Bobs”.

The sheet also refers to two students as “Mr Floppy” and “Mrs Floppy”.

Feedback is written next to each student. The comments are generally really rude, and present a rather outdated view of masculinity. Many of the notes comment on the students’ weights or perceived lack of muscle.

Most Read

Nathan breaks silence on MAFS UK split and reveals Lacey left him ‘heartbroken’

This Wicked press tour clip is getting utterly dragged and has become a massive meme

Omg, one of the MAFS UK couples has ‘secretly reunited’ to ‘give relationship another go’

One student is told to “Get a haircut. Toughen up. Get serious.” Another comment says, “Find your fight, you were bloody tough, loose weight. Specific muscles for rowing only. Fitness!” The sheet advises one student, “Put the pies down. Physiology. No excuses. Try harder.” One comment says, “Show you can rice and not be a plodder”.

The Oxford Brookes Uni rowing teams
(Image via the Brookes Rowing YouTube)

The creator of the sheet frequently compares students to paint. “Put your bloody blade in the water,” reads one comment, “It’s not an oil painting. It doesn’t need 24 hours to dry off each stroke.” Another note says, “Watching you row is like watching paint dry.”

Ten students near the bottom simply have “Try harder” next to their names. Someone else has “Try harder stop asking so many questions please.”

These leaked WhatsApp messages have raised concerns about the culture of the rowing club.

Oxford Brookes Uni released a statement saying, “Oxford Brookes is committed to maintaining an inclusive and respectful culture in every aspect of university culture. The material that has been circulated online has appalled us.

We are taking the concerns that have been raised about coaching practices at Oxford Brookes University Boat Club extremely seriously, and we are working with British Rowing to investigate and address those concerns. We are writing to members of the boat club to provide support and encourage them to come forward and report any concerns they may have to the university.”

British Rowing is aware of concerns being raised about coaching practices at Oxford Brookes University Boat Club.

Please find our full statement on our website: https://t.co/0JQnPneCsj

— British Rowing (@BritishRowing) November 22, 2024

British Rowing – the organisation responsible for regulating rowing teams across the UK – has requested members of the boat club report any concerning behavior at the rowing club to their governance team.

The Oxford Brookes University Boat Club is one of the most successful uni rowing teams in the UK. Several of its members won medals at the Paris Olympics.

Featured image via the Brookes Rowing YouTube channel