Cardiff University Student Sport Success

Cardiff University has recorded its best student sporting season to date, with the University ranked the highest in Wales in the British University and Colleges Sport (BUCS) national league tables. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Over the year, students excelled in sports including swimming, American football and cross-country running. There were also impressive performances by clubs competing in the BUCS National Championships, notably athletics, trampolining and fencing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As a result, the University was ranked 11th in the UK – a rise of four places from the 14/15 season – and leads the field of Welsh universities competing in BUCS. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Head of Sport at Cardiff University, Stuart Vanstone said: “It’s been another great year for our student sport clubs and athletes. We continue to develop and improve our performances on the field, courts and water, supported by a dedicated group of coaches, support staff and administrators. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We have over 6,000 members of University sports clubs – 20% of our student population – and during the 15/16 academic session we provided more playing opportunities than ever with over 100 teams competing in BUCS leagues and fixtures. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As well as our BUCS success, our intramural programme continues to grow in various sports. Our intramural netball programme has 40 teams alone, in addition to the nine teams playing in BUCS competitions. That’s 49 teams and over 700 students playing weekly in one sport! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“A number of our students have been selected for international competition and have travelled to World University championships to represent Team GB in athletics, rowing and shooting. This is a real indication of the quality and standard of athlete we have studying at the University.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The University has a long tradition of providing a range of sporting opportunities to its students, including rugby, football, hockey and netball, as well as less traditional sports such as korfball, ultimate frisbee and canoe polo. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Clubs are also recognised for their sporting success. This year, the Cardiff University Ladies Hockey Club represented Wales in the European hockey club championships, winning all three group games in Gibraltar. Cardiff University’s Futsal Club was the first team to win the Welsh League and Cup double and will travel to Moldova in August to be the Welsh club representatives in the UEFA Futsal champion’s league. The University will also be represented at the Olympic Games in Rio when recent alumni Natalie Powell competes for Team GB in Judo. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Athletic Union President, Elin Harding said: “Sport plays a significant role in the experiences students have whilst studying at the University. The commitment and enthusiasm the students have shown during last year has paid off with the confirmation of us finishing 11th in the BUCS league tables. I am sure the success will continue into the next playing season with even more teams entered into the BUCS framework providing more playing opportunities for our students.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​