New Zealand Rugby Union Team Visit St Mary’s

With just six months until Rugby World Cup 2015, team managers from New Zealand Rugby Union visited St Mary’s University, Twickenham, which will be a Team Base for New Zealand ahead of the Tournament this September and October. As part of their preparations for Rugby World Cup 2015 members of the New Zealand Rugby Union Senior Management Team, Darren Shand and Bianca Thiel toured St Mary’s Sports Centre. Last summer St Mary’s, in partnership with the Lensbury Club, was selected as a Rugby World Cup 2015 Team Base for both the New Zealand and South Africa Rugby teams. The visit was filmed by World Rugby TV, which is filming a number of Rugby World Cup 2015 Teams during preparations for the Tournament. St Mary’s Director of Sport Andrew Reid-Smith was also interviewed in which he discussed the University’s facilities and the impact the tournament would have on the local community. Andrew said, “Along with our partner The Lensbury Club, St Mary’s is very excited to be supporting New Zealand and South Africa in their preparations for Rugby World Cup 2015. Twickenham Stadium will host ten fixtures and St Mary’s students and staff will look to engage in the opportunities that this global sports competition will provide.” As a Rugby World Cup 2015 Team Base, the University and The Lensbury Club are providing a range of world-class facilities including indoor and outdoor pitches, a swimming pool, gym and accommodation - all of which will be utilised by the teams prior to and during the Tournament. During the London 2012 Olympic Games, the University hosted more than 150 athletes and officials from ten countries. St Mary’s provided use of its excellent facilities, services, and accommodation to the teams as they went on to win nine medals: one Gold, four Silver and four Bronze.