09 August 2011 Lincoln University celebrates sporting success with its first ever victory parade

Lincoln University rugby teams will be celebrating on-campus tomorrow (Wednesday 10th) with a victory parade after a weekend of on-field sporting success. 

The final rounds of the Christchurch Metro rugby competition saw the University’s four teams all playing in a final. The U20s and Premier Colts were both playing for the Trophy, the Division One and Two teams were both playing for the Plate.   With the U20s and the Colts winning their games, LURFU can claim to be the strongest club in Christchurch for U21 rugby – no mean feat in just the third year back as a stand-alone club. 

The Division Two team also won their game, with the Division One team getting their best result in the last three seasons with their 6th place finish.

Alumni, current students, parents and staff turned out to watch the games at the weekend in spite of freezing weather.  University rugby scholarship recipients were amongst the players.  Sports Scholarships are awarded to students showing particular talent in their chosen code, as well as academic potential, and many Lincoln University rugby scholars go on to representative honours.    Current students and members of Lincoln University Rugby Football Club include All Blacks’ forward Sam Whitelock, and Crusaders and Canterbury player Robbie Fruean.

Although Lincoln University has a strong tradition in rugby, this is the first known campus victory parade.  Peter Magson, manager of the Lincoln University Recreation Centre and Sports Scholarship Programme, puts the weekend’s success down as work in progress.  “The region has had a hard year as a result of the earthquakes – it has been disruptive but the students have worked hard, both on and off the field – and they really deserve the wins.  The University is very proud of these players – we will be seeing some of them around in rugby circles for a long time to come.” 

To celebrate 130 years of rugby at Lincoln University, representatives from the University’s Scholarships and Alumni teams are heading around the country to spread the good word about the opportunities at the University.  Sports scholarships are just one form of scholarship available to bring talented students into Lincoln University, with many others available for undergraduate and post-graduate studies.