Real Men Wear Pink

The UNSW rugby sevens team recently competed at the Australian university games up at the gold coast, and achieved impressive results both on and off the field.

UNSW Rugby 7s Team Manager Byron Fleury, explains the teams efforts,"As part of our fundraising efforts prior to the tournament, we decided to donate funds to Breast Cancer Research Australia. A number of the team have been directly affected by the disease, and as half the team have learnt whilst studying medicine- one in eleven women in Australia will contract breast cancer before the age of 75.

The boys managed to raise $3000 for their trip, and equipment, and donated over $300 to the charity. Part of the renaming funds were spent on tour jerseys, which incorporated pink numbers and the Breast Cancer Research ribbon on both the front and back of the jerseys, in an effort to raise breast cancer awareness."

On the field, the team had impressive results. Competing in division one for just the second time, the team were undefeated day one, and had a tough win over last years finalists QUT, before losing to a highly skilled UQ side. Day three saw a highly anticipated, match with Sydney rivals Sydney University, in which the boys were comprehensibly beaten, before recovering to win their final pool game to secure a semi-final berth against USYD to play off to get to the Gold Medal match.

Playing extended 10 minute halves, UNSW were trailing USYD 19-14 at the break, before rallying to rout their arch rivals doubling USYD’s score 38-19 and progress to the gold medal match. Unfortunately, the dominant UQ were too good, claiming the gold medal and remaining undefeated for the tournament. An excellent result, considering just two years ago UNSW failed to finish in the top 3 in division two.

 

 

A total of 6925 university students participated in the 2009 Australian University Games, representing 44 different universities. With a team of just over 300 athletes and teams entered in 35 events, the success rate of UNSW was excellent.

Highlights included the third successive Gold Medal to George Tang in the Table Tennis singles and he is now undefeated in AUG competition. The semi-final win by the Rugby 7s team over rugby powerhouse Sydney Uni was also a highlight. Lauren Kitchen won 2 golds and a silver medal in women's cycling.
Click here to read the full UNSW AUG Team Results