European success for Exeter Women’s Rugby

The Exeter team was invited by the European Universities Sports Association (EUSA) to take part in the event after winning the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Rugby 7’s Plate Competition in Preston in May.

In the group stages of the competition, the University of Exeter was victorious against the University of Marburg from Germany and the University of Chester from the UK.  However, they lost against a strong French team from the University of Bordeaux and the eventual winners from the University of Coimbra, Portugal.

Exeter then rallied to produce a strong performance against the University of Kiel, Germany to qualify for the fifth and sixth place play-off when they once again met the University of Chester.

Mark Tomlinson, Director of Women’s Rugby said: “The University of Exeter team went from strength to strength as the tournament progressed and played some of the very best rugby seen in the tournament in their final game, prevailing 20 - 5 winners to secure fifth position.”

He added “The tournament was the final bow for four members of the Women’s Rugby Squad who leave the University this year, having enjoyed their most successful season in recent years, reaching the final of the BUCS 15-a-side completion at Twickenham Stadium earlier this year”.

Team Captain Kat McGonigle, a third year Exercise and Sports Science Student and one of four graduating players from the squad said: “We went to France hoping to win the tournament, as we did in 2009, and were disappointed not to finish higher than we did this time. However, credit must go to the tournament winners from the University of Coimbra, Portugal.who played well and deserved their victory.”

She added ”Rugby has been a huge part of my life as a student at Exeter and the successes that we have achieved in my time here are testament to the work of the coaching staff, especially our Director of Women’s Rugby, Mark Tomlinson, and the efforts of the players that I have been fortunate to play alongside.”

The University of Exeter Women’s Rugby 7’s Squad that competed in Lille were: Kat McGonigle (capt), Zoe Saynor, Poppy Davis, Charlotte Benjamin, Harriet Hewitt, Vicky Warren, Kat Wynne-Ellis, Rebecca Partridge, Jenny Fotheringham and Esther Brett.