St Mary’s University, Twickenham (SMU) saw great sporting success last month, with current student Mia Eldridge having been selected to join the 2023/24 English Universities Sport Women’s Rugby 7’s squad, and the SMU Women’s Futsal team finishing top of the BUCS Premiere South league.
The Premiere South League is the highest division in UK university futsal, with the team taking the title after an undefeated run of games this season. Team President Charlotte Close was the fourth overall highest futsal goal scorer in the country, across both men and women.
SMU student Mia Eldridge was selected to join the EUS Rugby 7’s squad alongside 15 other women from universities across England.
English Universities Sport is the official association for England which administrates all representative student sport and competition across higher education, providing first-class coaching and high-end competition for top students in hockey, football, netball, basketball, and rugby sevens.
Speaking on her selection for the rugby sevens squad Mia said, “I am extremely grateful and excited for this opportunity to be selected and play for the EUS 7’s team. Having not played a lot of rugby sevens in the past, I am eager to improve and enhance my rugby performance."
These achievements continue a successful season for SMU students, with multiple individuals seeing national success in their sport.
Earlier in May two students won medals at the BUCS Athletics: Outdoor Championships 2023-24. Jade Spencer-Smith took home Gold in the women’s pole vault, while Sam Charig was awarded the Silver medal in the men’s 1500 metres.
This followed a previous win for Jade in the women’s pole vault at the BUCS Indoor Athletics event, while fellow student Bijan Bayati took home the Silver medal in the Men’s Intermediate Kata karate category at the same event.
Outside of BUCS, students Lulu Banks and Maisie Davidson were chosen to join the English Universities Sport (EUS) Women’s Hockey Squad for the 2023/24 season.
In international sporting news, SMU PhD student Christopher Bryde has been selected to compete in the 2025 Invictus Games for the United States Marine Corps after winning five medals at the Marine Corps Trials.
SMU will also see alumni competing at the Olympic Games in Paris this summer, with Emile Cairess, Beth Potter, and Charlotte Purdue already selected to represent Team GB at the Games.