Leeds Met Carnegie’s rugby league team have been crowned national student champions for the fourth consecutive year.

The University side overcame arch-rivals Loughborough 18-16 in a pulsating British Universities and Colleges (BUCS) Championship final at West Park.  Scott Ellam, Kris Hodson and Rhys Griffiths scored the tries for Leeds Met whilst Iain Gordon kicked three goals.

The victory followed on from the earlier success of the Men’s rugby league 2nd team who overthrew Varsity rivals, The University of Leeds 42-26 in the BUCS trophy final.

Leeds Met Carnegie rugby league captain, Mark McKinley reflected on being crowned champions for the fourth time: “Tonight was a fantastic win for the lads against a very strong Loughborough team. There were a few nerves out there, but it shows the character of the boys to pull through and get the win, which is all that matters in a final. To make if four years on the bounce is amazing, the team has been superb all year and the win last night was what the lads deserved.”

Leeds Met Carnegie rugby league coach Paul Fletcher, who earlier this month was awarded the Sports Coach of the Year accolade at the Leeds Sports Awards added: “I’m absolutely delighted at the result and that we’ve made history in winning the title for four consecutive years.  I’m really proud of the effort shown by the whole team, especially after such a physical encounter against Rochdale Hornets in the Carnegie Challenge Cup on Sunday.  We managed to hold on against a spirited Loughborough side and showed really grit and determination throughout the entire eighty minutes.”

Both Loughborough and Leeds Met reached the third round of this year’s Carnegie Challenge Cup, with the Leeds side bravely going down 38-24 against Cooperative Championship 1 side Rochdale Hornets.