UL to attract rugby students to the Bohemian lifestyle

THE University of Limerick has launched a plan to lure international students to a rugby heartland.

UL is hoping to broaden its international student mix by tapping into the city’s reputation as a place of rugby excellence.

Male and female third-level students from all over the world, who have an interest in rugby, are being offered the opportunity to study at UL for a year and sharpen up their rugby skills as playing members of UL Bohemian RFC.

The international education division at UL is marketing the city abroad as the home of Irish rugby and encouraging international students to experience what UL and Limerick have to offer both in terms of education and sport.

The Rugby Study Abroad programme is a new initiative developed by the university which has welcomed international students on other study abroad programmes for the past 20 years.

Liam Ó Dochartaigh, director of international education at UL, said: “Limerick is, without doubt one of the premier destinations in the world for any young man or woman wishing to develop as a rugby player. With the superb facilities of the university arena, the opportunity to be an active member of the UL Bohemian RFC, and the extensive range of academic modules available at UL, we are confident the rugby programme will attract many new international students to spend some time studying here.”

The marketing initiative is initially being targeted at American universities and will also be promoted among UL’s rugby playing partner universities in Europe, Japan and Canada.

Bohemian RFC amalgamated with the University of Limerick in 1999/2000 to form the club.

UL Bohemian quickly progressed to the top of the All-Ireland League for Irish rugby and is firmly established in Division One. The women’s team has seven players on the Ireland ladies side who finished third in the European Championships in Amsterdam at the weekend.