Shaydn is in his third year as part of the Rugby Team, and his uni experience has been made 100 times better for joining the club.
The best part of being part of UWL Rugby for Shaydn is the excitement of coming together to play a match every Wednesday. He gets to spend a day with his best friends, and they all put their all into every single game. Feeling the adrenaline of playing and knowing the dedication the team have is the best feeling.
“If it's a win, if it's a loss, it doesn't matter. You’re just with the best people in your life.”
Shaydn puts his all into competing, in every single game. The passion drives him to perform at his best, as well as knowing all his teammates are doing their best for each other. They all work to support one another throughout matches and their bonds only grow stronger from playing together. Being able to play a sport that he loves every week, feels “out of this world” for Shaydn and he’s come to love rugby over his time in the team. Being able to stay fit and active, whilst enjoying yourself and spending time with friends is incredibly motivating and makes every match and training session amazing.
Going to socials is a big part of any sports club, as it allows members to get closer and meet new friends from other teams. They’re also just loads of fun! For Shaydn, going to socials is a huge part of his uni experience and what really stands out about his time at UWL. One of the most memorable events was the pre-Varsity tailgate, where all the sports clubs announced who would be playing at Varsity and celebrate the lead up to the day. Being announced as a player in a room full of people supporting him filled Shaydn with so much pride and joy, making that moment unforgettable.
“The energy was just like it was in movies, you know. It didn't feel real.”
In his first Freshers week at uni, Shaydn had no intention of joining a team and was invited to training when he met some Rugby members at an event. He went along and felt instantly welcomed and had such a great time he decided to join! It goes to show that joining a student group isn’t necessarily about finding something you already know; it can be about trying something new to meet new friends and find your community.
“It's definitely changed my experience at university for the better. It's given me somewhere to create memories and create stories, so now that when I leave university, I've got something to talk about. When I leave, I've got something I can look back on.”
Thinking about joining Rugby or another team? Have a look at every sports club UWLSU has on offer here.