Information on Loughborough

Students in County Cup showdown at Welford Road

Posted on 02/04/2008
J. Milton

Loughborough Students face South Leicester RFC in tonight’s County Cup Final at Leicester Tigers’ Welford Road ground.

League leaders Loughborough, who won the County Cup two years ago, will be hoping for a repeat performance to cap what has been an impressive year for the student side. Already guaranteed promotion into National League Three next season, Loughborough will also contest the British Universities crown at Twickenham later this month (23 April).

Wins against Market Bosworth and Melton Mowbray in the quarter and semi finals of the Cup have earned Loughborough Students their place in the final against South Leicester, who beat Syston on their way to the final two.

Loughborough have already played South Leicester, currently sixth in the Midland league, once this season beating them 30-17 and the return fixture is scheduled for 19 April. But Loughborough Students head coach Dave Morris believes South Leicester will provide tough opposition for the University side.

“There is a great rivalry between the clubs and our fixtures are always fiercely contested,” he said. “We have a number of players unavailable for this fixture due to injury and international commitments, but our squad has great strength in depth and we expect our players to step up to the mark tomorrow.

“We are coming to the end of an incredible season for Loughborough Students and a win at Welford Road would be a brilliant achievement. We’d like to thank Tigers for opening up the ground for the fixture.”

Loughborough’s England Student captain Ian Kench and players Andy Wright, Matt Cross and Simon Pitfield are in the squad for tomorrow’s fixture while Hong Kong 7s team member Mark Wright and long-term injured Basil Holiosmennos are two players to miss this important match.

The County Cup Finals kicks off at Welford Road at 7.45pm tonight (Wednesday 2 April). Supporters are advised to get to the ground early to secure seating.