The student rugby season kicked off with thousands of men and women throughout the UK’s universities taking part.

The University of Wales Institute Cardiff, which last year dominated the men’s and women’s games, made a shaky start, narrowly overcoming Bristol, 27-29, in the main competition, with the UWIC women’s team beginning the defence of their crown earlier this month.

There were only two matches in the first week of the season in the Women’s Premier League. Northumbria saw off Crewe & Alsager at home, 88-0, while Marjons kicked off their year with a convincing 34-0 victory over Oxford. Despite Northumbria’s good start, they were unable to overcome last year’s runners-up, Loughborough, in week two, going down 10-22. Newly promoted teams Birmingham and Leeds Metropolitan, meanwhile, battled it out to finish 28-11 respectively. Crewe & Alsagar faced a further barrage of tries on the road as they met Newcastle, and are still yet to make a mark on the score sheets. Newcastle’s first league match, was won comfortably 65-0. In the women’s Varsity match, Oxford beat old rivals Cambridge, 12-5.

In other games in the South, premiership newcomers Swansea edged out Bath, 13-14, in a hard fought encounter. St Mary’s College scored all of their points from the boot, as they defeated Exeter, 18-10, at home. In the North, Loughborough began their campaign in customary style, with an overwhelming, 59-15, victory over Birmingham. Durham squeezed past Newcastle in the local derby, 31-27, while Worcester went down 12-0 to last year’s finalists, Northumbria.

For a comprehensive guide to the student season, go to www.busa.org.uk, and click on the ‘rugby review’ icon.