GB Sevens have set up base at the University of Leeds as they prepare for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to kick off.
The women’s rugby sevens team will be stationed at Sports Park Weetwood until they head into competition at the end of July.
The squad will be able to take advantage of the University’s outstanding sports facilities as they prepare to compete at the highest level.
Suzanne Glavin, Head of Sport and Physical Activity at Leeds and a former Wales rugby union international said: “The University has a long history of sporting excellence, and it’s incredibly exciting to have GB Sevens with us on site.
“Apart from supporting the team and their journey towards Paris 2024, this is also a wonderful opportunity for our sport science and journalism students to work alongside elite athletes, and we hope our work with GB Sevens can flourish beyond this summer and become a long-term partnership.”
Caption: GB Sevens women's squad are training at the University's Sports Park Weetwood. Pic credit: Team GB
GB Rugby Sevens Squad Head Coach Ciaran Beattie said: “We want to be competitive in Paris and approach each match as one that can be won, with the ultimate aim of medalling, at the same time being respectful of the huge quality of other teams.”
High-quality facilities
Over the past 10 years, £25m has been invested in new sports facilities at the University.
Sports Park Weetwood plays host to the University’s sports teams as hundreds of students train, receive coaching and play matches on high-quality pitches.
The Weetwood facility also hosts the Leeds/Bradford MCCU cricket team, the Yorkshire Cricket Club Academy, and is a Junior Regional Performance Centre for hockey.
Mark England, Chef de Mission for Team GB and Leeds Alumni, will lead the team for the third consecutive summer Olympic Games at Paris 2024.
Caption: Mark England, Chef de Mission for Team GB and Leeds Alumni. Credit: University of Leeds
A keen cross country runner during his time at Leeds, Mark praised the University for its investment in sport in recent years:
“The Edge sports centre didn’t exist when I was a student; if you were a swimmer you went to the international pool in the city centre.
“The University offers so much for student activity these days – and that’s a really important part of their education. It’s fantastic for the GB Sevens team to be able to use these facilities.”
The GB Sevens squad has also linked up with Leeds Beckett University, for team skills and gym sessions at their Headingley campus.
Further Information
Main picture credit: Team GB.
For further details, contact the University of Leeds press office via pressoffice@leeds.ac.uk.