Swansea University representatives will be flying the University and Wales flags this weekend

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Swansea University representatives, including players, ex-players and coaches, will be out in force this weekend flying the flag for the University and for Wales as the 6 Nations contest reaches a crescendo.

The Swansea University RFC players, current and former, will be leading the pack as Wales take on England in various high profile rugby ‘scrums’ this weekend.

The weekend kicks off with Swansea University students Andrew Claypole, Tom Kailaks, Josh Guy and Sean McDonnell-Roberts will be representing Wales students when they take on the England students at Oxford University (KO 7.30pm).

Also on Friday Swansea students Steffan Hughes (Captain), Nicky Thomas, Connor Lloyd, Rory Thornton and Ashley Evans will be swapping their green and white shirts for red when they take to the field as part of the Wales U20’s team when they go ‘head to head’ against the England U20s at Kingston Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (KO 7.45pm). 

The highlight of the weekend will be when former students Alun-Wyn Jones and Rhys Priestland swap their graduation mortar boards for Wales caps when they run out onto the Twickenham HQ pitch on Sunday afternoon when Wales take on the English on their home turf.

The Wales team will perform under the watchful eyes of coaches Robert Howley and Warren Gatland. Howley is a former student of Swansea University and Gatland was awarded an Honorary Degree by Swansea University last year.

In addition Swansea University students Will Thomas and Ashley Evans have just returned from New Zealand where they represented Wales 7s in the Wellington Sevens tournament. The Wellington tournament is one of nine HSBC Sevens World Series tournaments held every year. The Wales team played well and reached the semi-final in a strong competition which was won by the New Zealand team for the seventh time since 2000.  

The National and World level experience and training will help the Swansea University players in their preparation for the forthcoming Welsh Varsity match.

The battle between Swansea University and Cardiff University for the Varsity Shield takes place every year. This year’s Varsity match kicks off at 7.30pm in the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Wednesday 9th April.

Over 25 events to find the deserving winner of the Shield takes place over the course of a week. The centrepiece rugby match takes place on the Wednesday evening with over 15,000 spectators watching the green and whites take on the reds.

Other sports represented include hockey, squash, badminton, lacrosse, rowing, golf, basketball, netball, fencing and an array of other sports including martial arts. This is a fundraising event with proceeds going to another of worthy causes.

With just over a month to go until the big day, organisers are expecting tickets to be snapped up quickly by students, alumni and rugby fans. Tickets are on public sale priced at £15 and £12.50 for students. Further information can be found at http://www.welshvarsity.com.