Oxford to Accra

Date Published: 31.01.2022

Two Wadham students are raising money to represent the Oxford University Blues Rugby League team in Ghana this summer.

Joseph Grosvenor (Law, 2018) and Oliver Bottle (History, 2021) have been selected for the Oxford Blue Rugby League team, taking part in a two game series against the Ghanaian President's XIII and Ghanaian National Team. The games will be combined with a programme of visiting local schools, clubs and charities.

“Rugby is a great leveller and I am really looking forward to travelling to Ghana and meeting students from a completely different culture who share my interests in both rugby and the Law” said Joseph. 

To help raise funds for the tour, Joseph and Oliver are taking part in a 5000km run/cycle (equivalent to the distance from Oxford to Accra in Ghana), detailing their progress on Instagram and Facebook

Joseph has been playing Rugby Union since school, but it was not until he arrived at Wadham that he discovered the joys of Rugby League, which he describes as a faster game with no rucks and fewer players (13) on each team. 

Joseph was elected President of Oxford University Rugby League Club this year and became a member of the Oxford University Blues Committee which is the highest student sporting body at Oxford. Several other Wadham students have joined him in becoming Rugby League enthusiasts, Oliver Bottle, Will Austin, Louis Egerton-Legum and Rob Allan.

Training sessions six days a week range from pitch side sessions, strength and conditioning, nutrition, sports psychology and matches.

“You get used to that level of commitment and it gets you into a good routine – up at 6.30am and bed at 10pm” comments Joseph. In his final year of a Law degree, he has found a good balance between sport and study. 

OURLF are currently preparing for two forthcoming fixtures, a Derby Day match against Oxford Brookes at Oxford RFC, North Hinksey on Friday 18 February 8pm; and the annual Varsity Match against Cambridge at Oxford University RFC, Iffley Road on Saturday 5 March, 2:30pm.

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