The University of Gloucestershire men’s rugby team have begun preparations ahead of their Varsity bout against the University of Worcester in April.
It was Worcester who came out on top on rival territory last year as they won at Plock Court in Gloucester.
Hooker Noah Jenkins cast his mind back to that game but is now looking forward to a Varsity game that marks a return to normality after a COVID ridden affair last year.
“It’s a massive sense of anticipation obviously because for a lot of people it’s their first Varsity.
“Some boys may have played in Varsity last year but it wasn’t to the scale it’s meant to be, we played at Plock Court.
“But to be playing in a stadium in front of hundreds of people, it’s going to be a huge challenge but I think we’re definitely up for it.”
As mentioned by Jenkins, this year’s game will be played at Sixways, the home of Worcester Warriors, adding further tension to the tie.
It’ll be a brilliant spectacle and will look to bring back the camaraderie and spirt of Varsity that was affected by COVID-19 in previous years.
But in his final year with the team, Jenkins has noted the magnitude of the game but is looking to go business as usual to try and get a victory.
“You’ve got to treat it as a normal game really. Obviously it’s going to be one of the biggest games of most of the boys’ lives.
“Some boys will go on to play bigger games but it’s going to be a huge fixture for everyone involved.
“Its going to be a massive experience for the day as a whole, it’s not just going to be the 80 minutes.
“The whole thing is just a massive privilege that we get to experience”
UOG RUGBY HOOKER NOAH JENKINS
UOG men’s rounded off their BUCS season with a defeat to Exeter 4’s on Wednesday, meaning they lost their last two games of the season.
Yet as the team begin their six week period of training towards the game, Jenkins is confident in the team’s ability and the lessons they’ve learned in weeks gone by.
“I think coming off of two losses against two really good sides is not the best way to enter the six weeks but hopefully playing against that calibre of opposition will light the fire under us.
“When we play well we’re fantastic but we’re just missing a couple of key things in key areas, a little bit of fitness here and there and a little bity of composure here and there.
“But apart from that we’ve got excellence across one to 22 really so there is no reason why we can’t do it and win.”
This year’s Varsity is set to be a great event with the rugby fixture taking place on the 6th of April.
