VARSITY FUN AT MEGGETLAND

Photographs C/O Rory Brown-Kerr

The Edinburgh Napier Knights American Football club has announced Meggatland Stadium as the venue for the student Varsity game against Edinburgh University Predators on Sunday 5th February 2012.

Sponsored by the 3 Sisters Bar, the Varsity game will be the largest student sporting event to be held in Scotland next year and it is hoped the attractive location and free entry for students will attract a bumper crowd.

Edinburgh Napier Knights Head Coach Pete Laird stated that he was ‘absolutely thrilled’ with the announcement. ‘We have been working towards an event like this for some time. It has taken a lot of hard work to secure the venue but this event promises to be something new and exciting in Edinburgh’s annual sporting calendar’.

The Varsity game has only been competed between the two rivals since 2009, with one victory apiece and the Knights as the current holders of the trophy. But the growth of interest in American Football and the increasing popularity of student sports have meant a larger venue was required for interested students and spectators of the cross-town adversaries.

Predators Head Coach Stewart Adams was equally enthusiastic about the fixture. ‘This game should be very popular amongst the students of both uni’s. We hope to attract a vocal and large support for the day and it will be a fantastic opportunity to raise the profile of our sport and put on a good show at the same time.’

(from left to right), Edinburgh Napier Knights player Dominik Weist, Knights Head Coach Pete Laird, Edinburgh University Predators Assistant Head Coach Dan Cameron, Edinburgh Napier Knights team president Jamie Charles, at Meggatland

The home to Premiership 1 rugby club Boroughmuir, Meggatland  is opening its doors to the first ever American Football game to be held on its pitch. Access to the stadium has been negotiated in conjunction with Edinburgh City Council who are throwing their weight behind the event and the rugby club will be getting into the swing of things by opening their clubhouse to spectators for food and drink on the day.

The Varsity game is a special one off event that is part of the regular season of fixtures competed by the two universities in the British Universities American Football League (BUAFL). The League has six conferences spanning Great Britain with over 60 teams competing for the prestigious National Championship.  With 10 teams competing for only 2 places in the playoff round from the Border Conference the Varsity game proves pivotal in deciding who will compete in the post-season.

The game date also coincides with Superbowl Sunday and will be part of the Knights 'Day of Football' which concludes with their annual Superbowl Party at the 3 Sisters Bar in the Cowgate.