With Leeds Varsity approaching, the Leeds Beckett rugby union team is taking several members from the first team all the way to their fourth team on a tour of San Diego.
The side is set to return from America on the 2nd of May with the Varsity match set to be played at Headingley Stadium on the 3rd of May.
First team player Madison Hunting said: “The preparations aren’t ideal but I’m sure that as a team we will be able to find a way around it and have strategies in place to work around it, so that we come back in the best way we can”
With players from all teams up to the fourths the trip will effect all the rugby union Varsity games happening on the 3rd of May.
Rugby Development officer and coach Kris Stafford said: “The lads will have a bit of jet lag and a few sore bodies from the trip.”
A great experience
This is the first time that Leeds Beckett has put on a trip for the Rugby Union team and Club Captain Pete Barry said: “It’s just a great experience, this will be the biggest trip for a lot of lads that they have been on especially for rugby, we have got a lot to prove going out there.”
America isn’t often known for Rugby but while out in San Diego the team is set to play against San Diego State University and also face the Legions Academy which are part of a professional setup in America.
With the uncertainty of the level of the Americans Hunting said: “It Is definitely a growing sport over in America especially in the last few years, so going out there we aren’t sure what to expect, I’m sure they will have some big units so definitely won’t underestimate them in San Diego.”
A concern for any team in this position would be travelling back a long way before the day of a big game but the Beckett team are optimistic.
Hunting believes: “The games that we have before Varsity is the best for us because it keeps the lads sharp.”
The club captain Barry is also hopeful the squad will recover well before the Varsity game.
“We have a good set of support staff around us as well so I’m pretty sure that they will look after us and make sure we are right for the game,” Barry said.
Looking ahead to Varsity
The rugby union men’s and women’s game at Headingley Stadium is always the biggest fixtures at Leeds Varsity and for the players involved this year, there is no difference.
Leeds Beckett is a powerhouse in the world of university rugby union but the side finished bottom of the first division this season.
Despite not losing Varsity since 2016 after a disappointing season the Beckett team is feeling the pressure Hunting said: “Yeah, every year we feel the pressure, we don’t take Leeds uni lightly.
“Last year it ended 22-15 in a tight game, they have their way of playing against us and they do their prep so we never ever underestimate uni of.”
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The men’s game often attracts thousands of Leeds university students weather that is Beckett or Uni of and for a lot of the team this will be a new environment.
“The game is always going to be important and we obviously want to win but the crowd make it so much better, the noise just makes you feel unbelievable and nothing like I’ve experienced before on a rugby pitch,” Hunting said.
With a busy schedule coming up for the Leeds Beckett team it is all to play for at Headingley stadium
