Dundee students set to scrum in national rugby final

Published On Thu 18 Apr 2019 by Dominic Glasgow

University of Dundee rugby players will swap the lecture hall for the lineout next week they take on Aberdeenshire RFC in the Men’s Rugby National Bowl Final.

The Dundee Uni Medics (DUMS) Rugby team, who will take to the pitch at Murrayfield in front of thousands of rugby fans on Saturday 27 April, said getting to the final is a dream come true for the self-coached Dundee students.

Fullback Mark Smith, President of DUMS Rugby team, said, “To get to a National Final at Murrayfield is huge for a small club like ourselves, especially since we only joined the regional leagues in 2013. 

“We are a student-run team, we don't own our own pitch and we have to self-coach and self-fund everything we do. So to be going up against Aberdeenshire who have a long history of playing in the national and regional leagues just shows how far we have come as a team.”

Founded in 2001 the squad includes students from all subjects at the University and this weekend’s final will be the most prestigious game they have ever played.

Fraser Curran, a fourth-year medical student who plays in the back row, said, “It is pretty David and Goliath in terms of the club size, so to win and lift the bowl would mean everything to us.

“We all have a busy curriculum but training gives us a great a reason to get out in the fresh air and that is great for the entire team.

“The final is going to be close. I reckon we will have the pace on the wing with fresh young boys able to run around them - we’ve definitely got the fitness but it’ll be a tough one.”

For media enquiries contact:
Dominic Glasgow
Media Relations Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: +44 (0)1382 385131
Email: d.w.glasgow@dundee.ac.uk