PROCEEDS GO TO THE WELSH CHARITABLE TRUST Welsh Varsity Match Contents The Welsh Charitable Trust 3 Welcome from Simon Griffin 5 Welcome from Scott Pigott 7 Swansea University Squad 2009 9 Swansea University SQUAD LIST 10 Cardiff University SQUAD LIST 11 Cardiff University Squad 2009 12 Varsity Through the Years 15 Spectator Safety 18 Acknowledgements 19 Itinerary TIME EVENT 6.00pm Gates Open 6.30pm Brass band 7.00pm Morriston Male Choir 7.30pm Kick Off 8.10pm Half Time 8.10pm Cheerleaders 8.20pm 2nd Half 9.00pm Final Whistle 2 Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust The Trust was set up in 1972 as a charitable organisation with a range of educational, social and sporting objectives.The main aim of the charity how- ever has always been to support those players and their families who have been severely injured whilst playing rugby football in Wales. Thirty-six years ago, in 1972, the Welsh Rugby Union set up the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust. There were several objectives but easily most important was the provision of assistance to severely injured rugby players and their families. The Trust is now financially and administratively independent but works close- ly with the Welsh Rugby Union and the member clubs. Practical and financial help is given to players who have been seriously injured on the rugby field and, where necessary, motorcars, electric wheelchairs, hoists, computers and holiday grants are provided. This sort of help involves ever increasing sums of money and the Trust is grateful for whatever financial sup- port is offered. Trustees have great cause to be very grateful to the Universities of Cardiff and Swansea for being such generous and good friends over the last 9 years. The proceeds of the annual Welsh Varsity Match have been invaluable in helping the Trustees to meet the increasing needs of injured players. The generosity is greatly appreciated by the Trustees of the Charitable Trust and also by the injured play- ers who know, better than most, how much everything is costing. The talented young rugby players and the Universities often go on to successful rugby careers with senior Welsh clubs and regions and they are aware that serious injuries regrettably can and do happen.When this occurs , thanks to the help from the Welsh Varsity Match and others, the Trust is able to help the injured player. This evening’s encounter is eagerly anticipated and we look forward to another hard, entertaining and uncompromising game of rugby football, played by two teams made up of committed and very fit young men. We with the players, sponsors, administrators and supporters a very special evening. Tom Baxter-Wright Chairman Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust 3 PROP362_dbc_rain_shine_a5_col:Layout 1 7/4/09 17:36 Page 1 DBC. Foodservice. For All Occasions. Public Sector. Private Sector. Local Authority. High Street. School. University. Hospital. Care Home. Hotel. B&B. Restaurant. Leisure. Contract Catering. Business & Industry. Ambient. Chilled. Frozen. Fresh Meat. Cooked Meat. Grocery. Snacks. Soft Drinks. Beverages. Confectionery. Non-Food. Breakfast. Brunch. Lunch. Drink. Dinner. Tea. Supper. Spring. Summer. Autumn. Winter. Rain. Shine... You Order. We Deliver. Whatever Your Occasion. Tel: 02920 460 014 Branches Nationwide www.dbc.co.uk WELCOME FROM SIMON GRIFFIN SWANSEA UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC UNION PRESIDENT May I welcome you all to Cardiff Arms Park for a showcase of university rugby at its finest. Varsity is the highlight of the year for both universities and I am very glad you can share in the passion and the pride which will be on show today in such a healthy sporting rivalry. This is the culmination of the day’s events which has seen around 25 fixtures take place across Cardiff and thanks must go to the staff and officials involved in their organisation and to the players for their dedication today and throughout the season. Thanks must also go to all involved in the organisation for tonight from Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff Blues, and the Police constabulary. Every fixture today has had its own unique build up from players, clubs and supporters and I hope they have all been a great advert for the quality of the sports offered at both of our institutions. Some fixtures have taken place outside of today such as cricket and the Varsity Welsh Boat Race, which was a hotly contested affair on the River Taff. Congratulations must go for all the rowers’ hard work over the season. The Welsh Charitable Trust is a very worthwhile beneficiary of the event and once again we will be making a donation to aid the support of severely injured rugby players and their families throughout Wales. I hope you all enjoy the match, embrace the rivalry and may the best team win! Simon Griffin Athletic Union President Swansea University 5 6 WELCOME FROM SCOTT PIGOTT CARDIFF UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC UNION PRESIDENT It is with great excitement and huge anticipation that I welcome you to the fourteenth annual Welsh Varsity Rugby Match - one of the undisputed highlights of the student year! The Welsh Varsity Challenge provides a unique opportunity for students to demonstrate their pride in the University. Whether you are representing Cardiff in a particular sport or donning the colours and lending your voice, thank you for your support. Cardiff and Swansea have been competing in 17 sports over the past week to decide the overall winner of the 2009 Varsity Shield. Cardiff has been deservedly looking after the Shield for eight successive years, and I look forward to the result of this year’s competition. My thanks go to Marion Coxshall and the University’s Sport and Exercise department for making it all possible, and to all the club committees and competing teams - without you there would be no Varsity! I am proud to boast that Cardiff also currently holds the Welsh Varsity Rugby Cup, and I am confident that our boys will see Cardiff through to another outstanding victory this year. It is at encounters such as these that they really step up to the mark! I would like to thank Vanessa Thomas, Jemma Mallorie, Chloe Charlwood, Laura Som and Martyn Fowler for their efforts in delivering this incredible event. My thanks also go to Endsleigh, The Welsh Charitable Trust, Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff City Council, South Wales Police, the Student Police Initiative and our Welcome Crew for their support. Tonight we will see our biggest attendance yet, and year on year more sports are becoming part of the Varsity spectacle. The Welsh Varsity Challenge looks set to have a very bright future. Come on Cardiff! Scott Pigott Athletic Union President 2008-9 Cardiff University 7 8 SWANSEA UNIVERSITY RFC 2009 9 SWANSEA UNIVERSITY SQUAD LIST 1. David Littlehales 2. Rhys Lawrence (Capt) 3. Carl Ackland 4. Ciaran Ruddock 5. Sam Williams 6. Lloyd Bickle 7. Gareth Beer 8. Stephen Chappell 9. Aled Lewis 10. Robert Evans 11. Mike Weadon 12. Sam Soul 13. Gil Dudson 14. David Evans 15. Christian Evans 16. Jonathan Vaughan 17. Rhys John 18. Kerry O’Sullivan 19. Daniel Hutchings 20. Matthew Hankin 21. Thomas Cushion 22. Alex Hickling 23. Marc Klus 24. Rhys Thomas 25. Jonny Rees 10 CARDIFF UNIVERSITY SQUAD LIST 1 Aled Mason 2 Aaron Fowler (Capt). 3 Jake Cooper 4 Tom P Ellis 5 Joe Caunt 6 Lee Bray 7 Mike Winter 8 Nic Huntley 9 Mark Schropfer 10 Cameron Pimlow 11 Bret Chatwin 12 Tom Cooper (V Capt). 13 Ben Warburton 14 Ieuan Coombes 15 Codey Rees 16 Geoff Levin 17 Andrew Cassidy 18 Josh Porter 19 Stuart Hendry 20 Jordan Wood 21 Chris Allen 22 Jack Perkins 23 Joe Casella 24 Harri Morgan 11 12 CARDIFF UNIVERSITY RFC 2009 13 VARSITY... THROUGH THE YEARS Varsity!! How the times have changed! During my eight years at Swansea University the Welsh Varsity has grown and grown each year, from only the rugby game with crowds of one or two thousand, to today’s multi-sport event with crowds of seven to eight thousand student bonanza!! Whilst studying at Swansea University I have been involved with the Varsity on many different levels. Being involved in the Rugby club from day one, there were always the formalities involved with organising the Varsity event, from going around selling tickets to competing for a place in the squad. However, during my first few years it was the single best all day-er event of the student calendar. As my time at Swansea University went on I became the club captain as well as coach for the rugby club, and with this my responsibilities and involvement grew, as did the event. I was now ordering kit, talking in meetings, gaining sponsorship, going to training, and the best ever job—bag- ging t-shirts and tickets!!! But the deeper you get involved with Varsity the more you realize how much time and effort the AU and all the clubs involved put in to making it the day it is today. Only when you leave University do you then realize how much you miss it, and how jeal- ous you are of the people who still get to go and be involved. Some of you who read this may think that I am a bit of a nut job being in Uni for eight years in the first place. However, even though I am now a workingman living in Zurich, on the 29/04/09 ,my ninth Varsity anniversary, I shall be in Cardiff celebrating the BEST student event EVER!!!! James Kerr Former Club Captain, Swansea 15 BT^STYR MZ_S _PLX^ PaP]d ^`NNP^^ 16 Varsity Match 2008 Today You’re Part Of This University And From Now On This University Is Part Of You Mike Evans Sales Manager - Wales and West Tel: 07768943464 E-mail: [email protected] www.kukrisports.com 17 THE ARMS PARK EXPERIENCE ~ SPECTATOR SAFETY Welcome to the 2008/2009 season at Cardiff Arms Park.