Scottish universities progress to last eight of BUCS Trophy

The quarter-finals of the BUCS Conference Trophy take place tomorrow with three Scottish universities competing for a place in the semi-final. Edinburgh University travel to University Park to face the University of St Andrews (kick-off 7pm) in an all Scottish quarter-final while the University of Glasgow travel to Leicester University (kick-off 2pm).David Ross, Director of Rugby at the University of St Andrews, highlighted just what a season it has been for his squad: “The University of St Andrews reaching the quarter-finals of the BUCS trophy is another great achievement for our programme which continues to go from strength to strength.Two seasons ago, we reached the quarter- final stages after an historic first ever win against Durham, which helped kick us on to win back-to-back league titles and promotion into the Premier Leagues.”Cup rugby provides a welcomed break from the league and to get drawn against the University of Edinburgh in the next round is a huge game.”The two universities have gone head-to-head over the years during the Royal Bank of Scotland Scottish Varsity Match at BT Murrayfield, which saw University of St Andrews coming out on top last September in front of 10,000 spectators. Ross added: “Renewing the oldest university rivalry in the world against our oldest foes will allow us to create a big event around the match and get a good crowd along to University Park to watch the match under Wednesday Night Lights. There is no doubt that our two programmes are leading the way in Scottish student sport.”Glasgow University have performed consistently across the rounds to land themselves a quarter-final spot against tough English opposition in Leicester University.Glasgow University Club Chairman, Matt Horsman, said: “The GURFC 1st XV have had an incredible season so far, the most successful in recent memory. To make the quarter-finals of the BUCS Trophy means an awful lot to those of us at the GURFC.First and foremost, it is an improvement from last season, and is concrete proof of the undeniable progress we are making as a rugby side. Our cup run also gives us a chance to test ourselves against English opposition. Scottish university rugby is improving its standard all the time, with three Scottish representatives in the final eight of the competition proving just how high the standard is.”The other quarter-final fixtures include Cardiff University v Exeter University and Reading University v Loughborough University.