Press Release: Czech National Rugby team to take on prestigious Oxford University

17.02.2005 - Prague

One of the most famous rugby teams on the planet, Oxford University from England, are visiting Prague this year to play the Czech national side on 18^th June.  The university team is not usually known for touring, so travelling to Prague is really an exception.

Among Czechs, only a few keen fans will be aware of the quality of rugby played by Oxford University. The following facts should speak for themselves. In 2002, Oxford hosted the world champions Australia in what was a closely contested encounter losing only 26:54. For those not entirely familiar with the game, this would be the equivalent of a 3:5 score in hockey. To give the result more weight, Australia even fielded some of the best players in their sqaud, including big names such as world-class captain Gregan, Finegan, Young, Cockbain and Latham.

In Britain, Oxford University rugby is more associated with the annual “Varsity Match”, which is played every second Tuesday of December against their rivals Cambridge University. The headquarters of English rugby, Twickenham, plays host to this popular event which last year attracted 60000 spectators through its gates and was broadcast live on national television. This sporting occasion is a parallel event of the famous 8-man “Boat Race” between the two universities.

The Czech national team plays in division A of the European Rugby Championships and also competes against teams of equal standard and stature.

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For further information, please contact:

Jan Machacek

Media representative for the CSRU

+420 777 699 966