The University of Gloucestershire Cricket team have not had a varsity fixture since 2022 and newly appointed club captain Toby Rice is hopeful that this may be the year it returns.
“We’ve had positive talks with the SU especially with Varsity moving back a couple weeks this year, they’re doing everything they can to try get us involved so I’m very optimistic that it could return.”
Varsity is the highlight of the year for so many university teams and the the fact cricket miss out on a matchup against rivals Worcester is something Rice will be hoping changes.
The team has just started their indoor cricket season and as current holders of the league they’ll be looking to return to winning ways after a defeat in their first game.
“We won the indoor league last year so we have to go and defend our title, majority of the first years have not played indoor cricket before and it’s a big change to outdoor so once they’re all used to it we’ll definitely be striving for the league.”
As is the nature of university sport players come and go and now as captain Rice had the responsibility of signing new first years to fill the vacant spots.
“After losing loads of players last year we have had about 10 new players join and they’re all good players and a good laugh so it was a very successful recruiting.”
It was not only players that were recruited this year as the return of former player Neal Osborn as he re-joins the team now in the role of head coach.
“He left two years ago so he was here during my first year, he was a brilliant player and is a exactly what we were looking for in a coach.”
With the addition of a coach to work alongside Rice he’ll be hoping achieve his goals for the season.
“I hope I can take the team back up to the division we were in last year we got demoted last year so I would love to take us back up, in regards to the other side I’d love to keep building the club atmosphere we have been striving for over the last few years.
“Trying to create what we call a brotherhood, there’s no cliques, everyone gets on and everyone goes to social events and everyone just has a great time.”
Rice will be looking to do a number of fundraisers for the club with the first being ‘The First Year Factor’.
“It’s a karaoke event where the first years go up perform a song and get judged by a panel its a great laugh and a great watch.”
While a date is yet to be announced keep an eye on their socials for any information regarding future events.
