The 2015 World University Rugby Cup begins tomorrow, with St Edward’s School, Oxford, hosting the pool games before Oxford University’s Iffley Road takes over at the knockout stage.
The tournament runs from Tuesday until Monday 21st September, and features eight Universities.
The eight teams are split into two groups of four, with the top two progressing to the semi finals, and the bottom two effectively progressing to the 5th/6th place play off semi finals.
This is the inaugural year for the World University Rugby Cup, with will run in sync with the Rugby World Cup every four years. Oxford University are this year’s hosts, with the World Cup being held in England, and the baton will be passed on to Japan’s Waseda University following the conclusion of Monday’s final, with Japan hosting the 2019 World Cup.
Speaking ahead of the competition, Oxford University RFC captain, George Messum, said:
“I am hugely excited to be welcoming some of the top academic and sporting universities from around the world to Oxford this September. We hope that this is the beginning of a special tournament that will be played in line with the Rugby World Cup for many years to come.â€
His side, representing England, are in Pool 1 alongside the University of Cape Town (S.A), Waseda University (Japan), and Stanford University (U.S.A). Pool 2 sees Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), University of British Columbia (Canada), Siberian Federal University (Russia), and a combined New Zealand Universities side (New Zealand) compete.
Group games will be played on Tuesday and Friday morning at St Edward’s Oxford, with the various semi finals at Iffley Road on Friday afternoon.
Saturday sees the 7th place play-off at Iffley Road, with the 5th place play off at the same venue on the following day.
The final takes place at 16.30 on Monday afternoon at Iffley Road, and will be preceded by the 3rd place play off. All of the ‘placing’ fixtures will be 60 minutes long, with the group games and the semi finals 40 minutes each.
Oxford University RFC begin their competition at 15.30 tomorrow, and play again at 10am on Friday morning, giving supporters plenty of time to watch their University side and the England team in the World Cup opener.
2015 World University Rugby Cup Pools:
Pool 1 | Pool 2 |
Oxford University (OURFC) | New Zealand Universities (NZU) |
University of Cape Town (UCT) | Trinity College, Dublin (TCD) |
Waseda University (WU) | University of British Columbia (UBC) |
Stanford University (SU) | Siberian Federal University (SFU) |
2015 World University Rugby Cup Schedule:
Match day 1 – Tuesday 15th September – St Edward’s School, Oxford – 40 minute pool matches:
Pitch 1 | Pitch 2 | ||
Time | Match | Time | Match |
13.00 | UCT v SU | 13.00 | TCD v SFU |
14.00 | OURFC v WU | 14.00 | NZU v UBC |
15.30 | OURFC v SU | 15.30 | NZU v SFU |
16.30 | UCT v WU | 16.30 | TCD v SFU |
Match Day 2 – Friday 18th September – St Edward’s School, Oxford – 40 minute pool matches:
Pitch 1 | Pitch 2 | ||
Time | Match | Time | Match |
10.00 | OURFC v UCT | 10.00 | NZU v TCD |
11.00 | WU v SU | 11.00 | UBC v SFU |
 Iffley Road – Play-offs, 40 minute matches:
1400 P/O 1 4th in pool 1 v 3rd in pool 2
1500 P/O 2 3rd in pool 1 v 4th in pool 2
1600 P/O 3 2nd in pool 1 v 1st in pool 2
1700 P/O 4 1st in pool 1 v 2nd in pool 2
Match Day 3 – Saturday 19th September – Iffley Road – 7th/8th Place Final, 60 minute match:
1300 Loser of P/O 1 v Loser of P/O 2
Match Day 4 – Sunday 20th September – Iffley Road – 5th/6th Place Final, 60 minute match:
1300 Winner of P/O 1 v Winner of P/O 2
Match Day 5 – Monday 21st September – Iffley Road – Finals, 60 minute matches:
3rd/4th Place Final
1300 Loser of P/O 3 v Loser of P/O 4
Final
1630 Winner of P/O 3 v Winner of P/O 4
