Back in the 1870’s, an exhibition tour showcasing Lacrosse around the UK was organized by Dr William George Beers. It prompted various Lacrosse clubs to spring up around the country. Since then there has only been marginal growth, but as the popularity of the game currently spreads around the globe, it does so too within the UK.
Although women’s lacrosse has been played in UK private schools for a long time, only in recent years has Lacrosse seen a meteoric rise in Universities. It is the fastest growing sport in the BUCS program as more and more new University teams are formed every year. These teams welcome new recruits with open arms, with a friendly atmosphere and a strong team bond formed by the relatively smaller squads that exist.
In the US, University sport is a hugely important aspect of higher education, and a lot of investment is made into the sports and the athletes that take part. Some are awarded scholarships to go to College for their sporting ability, and many collegiate players go on to become professional players. However, in the UK, there is much less emphasis placed on sport in general at most Universities, and Lacrosse is very much an amateur scene.
Between many of the University Lacrosse teams there exist some heated rivalries and hard fought battles, but there is also a sense of comradeship between them, ferociously fighting it out on the field, but coming together afterwards to share a friendly drink at the home team’s bar. Friends are made across teams, sharing a common interest in the love of Lacrosse and the goal of growing the game throughout the country.
