What goes on tour stays on tour: Meet the Captains

‘I don’t want to do an LSE rugby, so I’ll watch what I say’

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Men’s Football – Adam A Whitfield

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What are your big matches this season?

It’s got to be varsity hasn’t it? It’s the only time in the season we get to play against Kings as they’re in the division below us.

There aren’t many things worse than Strand Poly’s job prospects but their footballing skills are definitely a contender.

Last time we played against them was the final game of last season. We won, relegating them and securing the league title for ourselves.

It doesn’t get much better than that.

Tell us something interesting about your team?

I can’t think of an answer to this without being massively cringeworthy or just plain boring. Maybe don’t include this in the article.

Who should we look out for in the club?

Karl Rogers, our president. You can’t miss his huge 6’5” frame.

I’m surprised he didn’t opt for rowing or basketball to be honest.

Just kidding – he looks like a muffin.

Do you go on tour? What are your most scandalous tales?

Yeah, we go on tour. You know the rules, though. What happens on tour stays on tour.

Why should people join the club?

Why shouldn’t people join the club? I think we’ve got the right balance between playing at a good standard, having a laugh and not being proper weird – we’re not the Lacrosse team.

What do you think of the Medics’ team?

Who?

Who are your biggest rivals? Any words for them?

Westminster is always quite a tasty game. We’ve had a fair few post-match brawls kick off against them. I think they’re just generally pretty angry people.

Though to be fair, I reckon I would be if I was paying nine grand a year to end up working in Argos.

 

Lacrosse – Annie de Gentile Williams, Jenny Beard and Ben Colville 

These guys are proper weird, apparently

What are your big matches this season?

JB: I’d say that last year’s biggest competitor was Imperial. However there’s been a bit of a shake up of the league so with a few new teams entering this year, anything could happen.

BC: Having just being promoted this year and having some great players graduate or head off on years abroad all the games will be big and we are looking forward to the challenge.

Tell us something interesting about your team?

BC: The men’s club probably has the most Americans out of any sports society at UCL – I think we have 9 or 10.

Who should we look out for in the club?

JB: We’ve got some really great freshers on the team this year who are sure to make an impact. And as always there will be a competition for top goal scorer and as of yesterday’s game against Kingston Mickie is in the lead with 8…

BC: For us guys look out for James our president – he fancies himself a BNOC –  he can normally be seen in the CSC dominating our admin, he’s a machine!

Do you go on tour? What are your most scandalous tales?

Yes, last year we went to Salou in Easter that was great fun, but what happens in the club stays in the club.

This year’s tour is still to be confirmed but is set to be another awesome few days.

Why should people join the club?

Socially we are fantastic: biggest turn out at Loop every week with die-hard fans often being the last ones to leave. For the sporty ones, we are equally as incredible.

All three teams have outstanding results from year to year. Men’s were promoted last year, mixed were undefeated (the alumni match result is still debated to this day) and Ladies’ just missed out on promotion, losing in a very tight game against Southampton to reach the premier league.

All in all, lacrosse has a perfect work hard, play hard attitude.

 

Rowing – Claire Garnett

What are your big matches this season?

We’re going up north at the end of November to hunt down the Northern big dogs – the likes of Durham, Newcastle and so on.

Tell us something interesting about your team?

We can now be found (badly) practicing the art of yoga – we’re a friendly bunch and have more social events, dinners, and balls than potentially any other sports club and our upcoming boat ball in two weeks is open to all.

Who should we look out for in the club?

If you’re female, the Codfather, his reputation goes before him. If you’re a bouncer, George Prescott, and if you’re a lovely lady looking for a gentlemen to settle down happily with for the rest of your days: Edward Barrett.

Do you go on tour? What are your most scandalous tales?

The British press has had more than enough high profile scandals recently.

Why should people join the club?

We got UCLU Sports Club of the Year last year, our performance is continuing to improve and we’re really quite sociable, we promise.

What do you think of the Medics’ team?

Big fans – some of our best athletes are medics and used to compete for RUMS.

Who are your biggest rivals? Any words for them?

You know who you are… Check yourselves before you wreck yourselves.

Women’s Hockey – Ellie Craig

What are your big matches this season?

Kent. Oh, and King’s. Need I say more?

Who should we look out for in the club?

Watch out for big things from Charlotte Gibson and our new freshers Serafina and Clemmie will be making waves I’m sure.

Oh and Henry Scott-Green in the men’s just because he’s attractive.

Do you go on tour? What are your most scandalous tales?

Of course we go on tour. The infamous bubble bath challenge and a final night sleeping on the beach after being kicked out of two hotels were some of the more notable achievements from last year.

Why should people join the club?

Although we might sound like those typical ‘lads’ in Loop on a Wednesday that you’d rather avoid we are actually a great bunch of girls. Promise.

Hockey was the best part of first year, we’re like one big family. Cheesy but true.

What do you think of the Medics’ team?

…the Medics have a team?

Who are your biggest rivals? Any words for them?

I don’t want to do an LSE rugby, so I’ll watch what I say. But Strand know who they are. Varsity will be a very different story this year.

RUMS Men’s Hockey – William Southall

Renaissance man

What are your big matches this season?

All of them.

Tell us something interesting about your team?

We won the league last year and are gunning for it again. Always enjoy KC & the Sunshine Band’s ‘Give it Up’ in the changing rooms after a big win, among numerous other similar classic club bangers.

Who should we look out for in the club?

You are most likely to see Harry Bamber swaying his long neck above the crowds at the Loop.

You may even see Hamish Miller there, hockey stick in hand, sharking his way to BNOC status by describing how he “turns strong.”

Do you go on tour? What are your most scandalous tales?

Well, what goes on tour stays on tour. Unless you’re Simon Westby, who tries to leave half way through. Or was that Patrick Cremin? There’s certainly a lot of (Harry) Goss.

Why should people join the club?

Because you have To. Chris To, that is.

Who are your biggest rivals?

GKT. We can’t wait for varsity. We’ll be ready.

RUMS Men’s Rugby – Tom Burt

I wish we could tell you which one of these people Tom is

What are your big matches this season?

RUMS is a part of UH (United Hospitals) and as such we participate in the oldest rugby competition in the world (look it up).

Neither RUMS or it’s constituent medical schools has won it in living memory so any UH game is a massive game.

Last year we lost to Barts in the semi final after leading 15-3 at half time so It would be great to give them a good going over.

Tell us something interesting about your team?

Every year, in memory of a very pro-rugby Professor, our freshers take on the second years in Regents Park in what’s known as the Bill Smith’s Cup.

It’s become tradition for both teams to make a video of quite literally anything and release it a few weeks before the game.

I believe one was featured by The Tab last year. Just YouTube “Bill Smith’s Cup” if you have spare 10 minutes.

Who should we look out for in the club?

This year we’ve had a strong fresher intake, including grads and transfers from Oxbridge. Four of them went straight into the first team squad. However, it’s not just about the rugby prowess.

Fresher Partridge’s claim to fame is being the co-founder of the unofficial UCL Cider Hands Society.

Do you go on tour? What are your most scandalous tales?

For as long as anyone can remember, we’ve been touring to Munich to participate in the Oktoberfest 7s every year.

This year, one of the boys was trying to make a plucky escape from an undesirable and started to sprint away. Unfortunately he tripped over and broke his fall with his two front teeth.

He’s alright now.

Why should people join the club?

The club comprises of three teams of differing abilities, from those who have never played before, to those who have played divisional. In addition to the rugby, we’re a very social club going on tour, and frequenting curry houses.

What do you think of the non-medics’ team?

We don’t have much contact with UCL rugby. We’re trying to organise a varsity style match against them, but things have gone quiet on their end.

Last time the 1sts played them, two years ago in Regent’s Park, we beat them and got promoted as a result. Last time our 2nds played their 2nds, we beat them.

We prefer to let the rugby do the talking.

Who are your biggest rivals? Any words for them?

Barts as previously mentioned and Imperial, for bringing all their old ringers back every UH game.

Men’s Hockey – Will Nunn

What are your big matches this season?

The BTEC brigade, aka Kings College London. The league is nothing more than a run around for an experienced outfit like ourselves. All that matters now is that we do Burlington proud against those good-for-nothing inferiors we know as Strand poly. 

Tell us something interesting about your team

We proudly represent cultural, religious and ethnic diversity.

Who should we look out for in the club?

Fresher Sefton on 3 from 3 is one to keep an eye on. ‘Khan Khan Khan’ really needs no introduction. Oh, and Ex El Presidente Big Fat Baker, but then you obviously don’t have to voluntarily look out for him. A part of his enormous frame will be somewhere in front of you.

Do you go on tour? What are your most scandalous tales?

If I told you that, I would have to kill the editor of the Tab.

I couldn’t begin to describe the socials we put on, they’re sick in every sense of the word. We’re much better than Football and we’re not Rugby with all the oddities that they bring. Turns out we’re pretty good at hockey too… 6. An 8-0 win last year at their place just proves their worthlessness

Who are your biggest rivals – any words for them? 

Just after scoring the opener thirty seconds in, the low lives of KCL broke my nose. This forced me onto the sidelines.

We went on to lose 4-3. I speak on behalf of the entire club not just the 1st XI to say that unprecedented levels of revenge will be inflicted at Honor Oak Park. We hate Strand Poly.