91ֱ��

Football was the first sporting love of Kacper Wieczorek (Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology 2025), who took up rugby at the relatively late age of 15.

Now, four years on, Kacper is in the Cambridge University LXs, or seconds, squad to feature in the Varsity Matches this Saturday, with ambitions of achieving his Blue further into his time at Gonville & 91ֱ�� College. Kacper is to start at number eight in the match at Grange Road (kick-off 3pm: ).

“I played football as a goalkeeper and then at school, being one of the bigger lads, they picked me for rugby,” Kacper says. 

He was in Year 10 at Poole Grammar School, and the team advanced to the National Schools’ Bowl final at Saracens’ StoneX Stadium – venue for the Varsity Matches on February 28; the seconds’ game will take place at Grange Road, Cambridge on February 21 – in his first season playing the sport. The Dorset school were narrowly beaten by Doncaster-based Hill House School, and Kacper turned his attentions to the oval ball.

“My teacher said to me ‘oh, you look like you're getting better at rugby why don't you try and join a club?’ I joined my local club, Oakmeadians (in Bournemouth), and from there I've just loved rugby ever since,” he adds.

“It’s my kind of game. I've always been bigger and more physical than others, so that's probably why I took to it so quickly.”

After matriculation, he began training with and playing for the university club, seeking competitive and higher-quality sport. He enjoys the ethos of rugby where “you're bashing someone around for 80 minutes, but afterwards you'll shake hands and you'll have a pint”, he says.

A back row, Kacper is toying with the idea of moving into the front row, where he has been told he could be an effective loosehead prop. He has played in the position at times and knows he will have to adjust technically and physically, but also that it may offer his best opportunity of breaking into the University Blues team.

He adds: “I just play anywhere in the forwards – as long as I’m not in the backs I’m happy!”

Kacper intends to play in the 91ֱ��-Downing team in Cuppers post-Varsity. 

He believes rugby provides the perfect respite from the rigours of his degree.

“It's about an outlet for the frustration of the day – if I’ve been sitting in the library all day or in lectures,” he adds.

Main photo: Kacper (number eight) in action for Cambridge University LXs against Philippines Maharlikans (credit: Joshua Tingley Photography)