17 March 2009

Universities to face off for charity

Photo opportunity - Team captains to meet at Graduation Lawn, University of Dundee, Wednesday, March 18th, 2009 at 1pm.

The sporting elite from the Universities of Dundee and Abertay will go head-to-head next month when they compete for this year’s Tay Games Varsity Challenge Trophy.

Around 200 students will compete in nine different sports on Wednesday, April 1st. Teams from the two universities will contest matches in rugby, football, Gaelic football, basketball, volleyball, netball, hockey, badminton and golf at a number of venues in and around the city.

This is the second year in which the two universities will be battling it out in Varsity Challenge, which will be aiming to raise money for the sports charity Right To Play.

The organisation is a UK-wide student movement that works with more than 700,000 children in 23 of the world’s most impoverished countries to teach them skills such as leadership, teamwork conflict resolution and respect through sport and play.

Each student taking part in the event will donate a pound to Right To Play and spectators attending the matches will be encouraged to make a donation.

Vice-President of the Dundee Sports Union Richard Sawyer said the competition allows students to play competitive sport on a platform of mutual friendship and co-operation between the two universities.

He added, 'Being able to do all this whilst also aiding Right To Play's struggle to get sport into the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves is very important to us at Dundee.'

'We appreciate the value of charity in the current climate, and are eager for all people, no matter what their circumstance, to enjoy the freedom to play sport that we are so lucky to enjoy in the UK.'

Abertay’s Sports Development Officer Peter Burgon said 'At an exciting time for university sport in Scotland it’s fantastic that Abertay and Dundee can combine for a showcase event such as this.'

'We’re happy that the Varsity Challenge can help a worthy cause such as Right To Play whilst also promoting the friendly rivalry between the two universities and I’m sure that everyone involved in the event will have a great time.'

After the dust settles and the winner is declared the teams will meet up in the Sports Bar at Abertay's Student Centre for the trophy presentation and a well-earned drink to celebrate their success or drown their sorrows until next year.

Dundee will be defending the title they won at the inaugural Varsity Challenge last year and will be going into the tournament in confident mood having enjoyed a run of recent sporting successes.

On Saturday, the Boat Club clinched the University Winter League title. This is the first time that Dundee's rowing team have won the title and they set a new record for points accumulated during a season in the process.

The weekend also saw teams from the University achieve great success at the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Championships. Teams from seven sports travelled to Sheffield to represent the University and returned with a medal haul of two golds, two silvers and one bronze.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk