Bangor University men’s rugby team land first BUCS League title

Bangor University men’s rugby union squad 2021-22

Bangor University men’s rugby union side have won their British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) League for the very first time.

The success makes it a rugby double for the North Wales campus with the women’s team also topping their respective league.

A stunning 52-3 victory over Lancaster University RUFC at Treborth secured the title for the men, as well as promotion to the 2A League for next season.

BUCS is the national governing body for higher education sport in the UK. It supports and promotes the lifestyle and educational benefits of participating in sport.

The men, led by club captain Sam Grant and team captain James Andrew, go through four grueling training sessions a week as well as three gym workouts.

The squad is supported by a variety of bodies who have helped them achieve their goals, including the Students’ Union’s (Undeb Bangor) Athletic Union, who are four times winners of the Best Clubs and Societies in the WhatUni Student Choice Awards.

Bangor Sport, who have invested in the rugby programme for the past few years have been an integral part of the men’s achievements, along with their coach Joe Simpson, the rugby hub officer, who also plays for RGC.

Iona Williams, sport development manager for Bangor University, said: “The University have invested in the rugby programme for a number of years and now seeing the reward. Joe Simpson and the boys have worked hard all year and deserve the success.

“They’ve won every match in their league this season and it just goes to show that all those on-line fitness sessions over the pandemic was worth it. Bangor are lucky to have a combination of great players, including some that play for RGC or here at Bangor on rugby scholarships and access to amazing facilities enabling the team to strive.“

Ar ddydd Mercher 9fed o Fawrth gwelsom Rygbi Undeb Dynion Prifysgol Bangor yn dod yn fuddugol i Brifysgol Caerhirfryn RUFC mewn gêm wych yn Nhreborth, a mynd ymlaen i ennill eu cynghrair BUCS (Chwaraeon Prifysgolion a Cholegau Prydeinig) am y tro cyntaf erioed a byddant yn cael ei dyrchafu i gynghrair 2A ar gyfer y tymor nesaf.

BUCS yw’r corff llywodraethu cenedlaethol ar gyfer chwaraeon Addysg Uwch yn y DU ac mae’n cefnogi ac yn hyrwyddo’r buddion i ffordd o fyw a’r buddion addysgol sy’n dod o gymryd rhan mewn chwaraeon.

Mae’r dynion sy’n cael eu harwain gan Sam Grant eu Capten Clwb a James Andrew eu Capten Tîm, yn mynd trwy 4 sesiwn hyfforddi anodd yr wythnos yn ogystal â 3 sesiwn campfa. Mae’n ymddangos bod y gwaith caled yn dwyn ffrwyth.

Mae Rygbi Undeb Dynion Prifysgol Bangor yn cael eu cefnogi gan amrywiaeth o gyrff sydd wedi eu helpu i gyflawni’r fuddugoliaeth hon, gan gynnwys Undeb Athletau, Undeb y Myfyrwyr (Undeb Bangor) sydd wedi ennill gwobr Dewis Myfyrwyr ‘WhatUni’ am Glybiau a Chymdeithasau Gorau, pedair gwaith.

Mae Chwaraeon Bangor wedi buddsoddi yn y rhaglen rygbi dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf wedi bod yn rhan gyfannol o lwyddiant y dynion ynghyd â’u hyfforddwr Joe Simpson, Swyddog Hyb Rygbi sydd hefyd yn chwarae i RGC.

Dywedodd Iona Williams, Rheolwr Datblygu Chwaraeon, Prifysgol Bangor: “Mae’r Brifysgol wedi buddsoddi yn y rhaglen rygbi ers nifer o flynyddoedd ac yn awr yn gweld y buddion.

“Mae Joe Simpson a’r bechgyn wedi gweithio’n galed drwy’r flwyddyn ac yn haeddu’r llwyddiant.

“Maen nhw wedi ennill pob gêm yn eu cynghrair y tymor hwn ac mae’n mynd i ddangos bod yr holl sesiynau ffitrwydd ar-lein hynny dros y pandemig wedi bod o werth.

“Mae Bangor yn lwcus i gael cyfuniad o chwaraewr gwych gan gynnwys rhai sy’n chwarae i RGC neu yma ym Mangor ar Ysgoloriaethau Rygbi, yn ogystal â mynediad i gyfleusterau anhygoel sy’n galluogi’r tîm i ymdrechu.

“Llongyfarchiadau i’r holl ddynion a phawb a fu’n rhan o’r fuddugoliaeth hon ac rydym yn gyffrous i weld pa heriau a llwyddiannau a ddaw yn sgil y gynghrair newydd.”