With the new academic year set to kick off, the AU captains tell you why you should join their team.

The boys

Rugby Union – Guy Kingsley-Smith

Course and year: third year Biological Sciences.

Hometown: Newcastle Upon-Tyne.

What is the funniest or most memorable moment from last season/tour?

After winning the Christie Cup in Leeds last year, we swapped a few of our slightly more willing freshers with a few from Manchester Uni. All freshers eventually returned in one piece, although a highly intoxicated Dan Semple went half way to Birmingham before realising he was on the wrong train.

What makes you the best team at uni?

Liverpool University Rugby field three highly competitive teams, all of which are aspiring to win their leagues this season. The fourth XV also have the opportunity at silverware. Our set up off the field is unrivalled, with excellent coaching and gym programs available for all players.

Our infamous social calendar speaks for itself. Our presence is certainly felt on a Wednesday night.

One-to-watch

After setting the field alight last season, self-proclaimed ladies’ man Tom Milner is set to reciprocate his form this term, anchoring the first XV midfield.

Tom is the first on the training pitch and the last off it, setting an example to us all. He’s always working on his kicking and variety of distribution, taking inspiration from his hero Matt Banahan.

The fledgling model’s passion for the game is second to none, and LURFC are lucky to have him in our ranks. Be sure to hear about Tom breaking hearts and scoring tries, all in the aid of finding Mrs Right.

Football – Jamil Saleh

Course and Year: third year Mechanical Engineering.

Hometown: Portsmouth.

What is the funniest or most memorable moment from last season/tour?

The 30 hour coach journey home from Salou was buzzing. And winning the league last season, in Manchester.

What makes you the best team at uni?

We’re not the best team. Women’s water polo are.

One-to-watch

Ben Arnold is the one to look out for. People can learn a lot from his work-rate.

Rowing – Tim Hopkins

Course and Year: third year Physics.

Hometown: Bewdley, Worcestershire.

What is the funniest or most memorable moment from last season/tour?

The memory that sticks in my mind from last year comes from the largest event of the year, Henley Royal Regatta. The event is the most prestigious regatta of the rowing calendar is attended by athletes from across the globe, and needless to say everyone is on their best behaviour.

After missing out on qualification by a mere three seconds everyone was a little disheartened. To lift spirits in the camp our amazing coach Val Edwards proceeded to run and jump into the Thames River and, of course, all the guys followed suit.

So as many looked down on us with disgust at our actions, we had a whale of a time swimming around in the river.

What makes you the best team at uni?

Well, this is easy as we are officially the University’s top club for 2013/2014, as awarded by the Athletic Union last year. The club and its members completely personify the “Work Hard, Play Harder” moto.

The guys and girls spend hours each week training together to achieve outstanding results and it should come as no surprise that when a social comes around, it is like nothing freshers will have ever seen before.

This is what being in a sport’s team at university is all about and what makes Liverpool University Boat Club the best.

One-to-watch

This has to be the club’s resident joker, Jack Vojak. The guy truly burns the candle at both ends. He trains and works incredibly hard as well as being the most hilarious and crazy guy.

Whether it is a training session or a night out, it’s never dull with Vojak around. To anyone joining the club, I warn you, keep an eye on Mr Jack Vojak.

Lacrosse – Calum Murie

Course and Year: Masters in Marine Biology.

Hometown: Winsford.

What is the funniest or most memorable moment from last season/tour?

Probably the strange load of group sex that went down through the year.

What makes you the best team at uni?

We welcome beginners and have ridiculous socials where we play non-forced drinking games. We’re also a pretty laid back club. 

One-to-watch

Matt Collier is the best player, while Lewis Carmody is a shark for the ladies. 

Cricket – Callum Morris

Course and Year: third year Pharmacology.

Hometown: Oswestry, Shropshire.

What is the funniest or most memorable moment from last season/tour?

For last season, it has to be our double promotion with both teams unbeaten in BUCS competition.

For our tour to Barbados, it’s a close call between the rum-fuelled catamaran day or our karaoke night with the New Zealand cricket team.

What makes you the best team at uni?

You can’t find a better place to go on tour than Barbados or Australia. With a third XI team being formed for next year as well as a whole new Ladies’ Cricket section, we’re definitely the club to look out for in the next couple of years.  

One-to-watch

Josh Bates. With his steely-eyed gaze and beautifully brutal bowling action, the “Iron fist” is well known for punching through a batting order as defiant as a brick wall. With memories of 80mph bouncers flying past opener’s heads, Liverpool University Cricket predict another destructive season for our talisman. Put simply, he is comparable to a fine wine – he gets even better with age.

Hockey- Fred Kjaergaard-Higgins

Course and Year: fourth year Business and Spanish.

Hometown: Colchester.

What is the funniest or most memorable moment from last season/tour?

Rimini Tour, on the beach. The entire club was smashing the “Scully Shuffle” (choreographed dance moved invented by our very own Rich Scully, third year) with the ILOVETOUR reps, and getting it on their promo vid.

What makes you the best team at uni?

We are not just a sports club, we are a group of very close individuals who look after each other both on and off the pitch. The amount of work and effort that every single member has put into this club has made Liverpool Hockey Club incredibly strong. We work hard and play hard.

We are full of different characters from all over the country. Some of my favourite university memories have come from hockey, and having come back from my year abroad this summer, I can’t wait to get back into it.

One-to-watch

Sport-wise – Joe Julbacki. Going into his second year captaining the Weds firsts, he is a fantastic player. He works very hard and is going to be one of the greats.

Social-wise – Chris de Soysa. Also going into his second year, Chris will be very strong socially. Given the title of best fresher, he has a big reputation to live up to, and I am sure he will be a great role model for future freshers.

The girls

Lacrosse – Alice Barker

Course and Year: second year Veterinary Science.

Hometown: York.

What is the funniest or most memorable moment from last season/tour?

Beating John Moores in the very irate mixed tournament final to win, and Michaela’s dancing.

What makes you the best team at uni?

Most moral wins in a season.

One-to-watch:

Sally Stoddart (secnods captain), because she is a ginger ninja and incredibly perky. Also Saskia Burden because she has some pretty nifty moves that didn’t get much show last season but are promised to astound this year.

Cheerleading – Caroline Hancox

Course and Year: third year Psychology.

Hometown: Sheffield Tour.

What is the funniest or most memorable moment from last season/tour?

I’ve never been on tour but from last season it was seeing everyone’s routines at BCA, as I thought everyone performed exceptionally.

What makes you the best team at uni?

What makes us the best team is, as cheesy as it sounds, that everyone works together. It is less about the individual and more about the collective whole, so it is a supportive and fun environment.

One-to-watch

I think everyone is someone to look out for in the squad. I wouldn’t underestimate anyone.

Women’s Rowing – Bethany Rolt