Roses cancelled following Lancaster withdrawal

Roses, the annual sporting tournament between the universities of York and Lancaster, is set to be cancelled following the suspension of a number of Lancaster’s teams.

Lancaster University Students’ Union announced that they will be pulling out of this year’s tournament via Twitter last night following the behaviour of the University’s sports clubs at infamous university sports tour, Saloufest, held annually in Salou, Spain.

tweet#The University of Lancaster have suspended all clubs who attended the event last week, including Football, Rugby, Hockey, Netball, Cricket, American Football, Lacrosse and Ultimate Frisbee. As a result, YUSU have reluctantly agreed to Lancaster’s request due to the largely depleted fixture list.

Saloufest has regularly grabbed the headlines for sports clubs misbehaviour, attracting national media attention highlighted this year by The Daily Mail.

A spokesman for Lancaster University told Vision: “It is with great regret that we pull out of this year’s Roses tournament, hosted by the University of York. Unfortunately the behaviour of our sports clubs is something we are unable to turn a blind eye to. The events that took place on the sports tour are need to be taken very seriously, hence the suspensions. We will not be commenting further on this matter.”

York Sport President Charlotte Winter said in a statement: “The cancellation of Roses is a real kick in the teeth. I’m angry that the sporting highlight of the year has been ruined by bureaucratic decisions and I’m sure our sports clubs, who have an excellent disciplinary record, will be too. On a personal note, I’m gutted not to be able to play having missed my matches last year after one too many jägerbombs the night before left me with a ruined ankle.

“As you would expect, a lot of organisational work, not to mention a lot of money, has gone into sorting Roses this year and now YUSU will be left to bear the costs. We will be looking for financial compensation and clubs will be contacted via email later today regarding arrangements.”

rosesThe cancellation is more bad news for York’s sports clubs after Varsity failed to live up to expectations due to organisational problems marring the one-day event at Hull University last term.

Netball 1sts captain Nina Pullman said: “I’m absolutely fuming – for myself and a number of the other girls, being third years, this was our one last hurrah in terms of sport at York. That’s now been ruined by people being drunken idiots, which we couldn’t affect at all. It’s a disgrace.”

Lancaster’s players have recent history of bad behaviour at Roses, with the rugby team being suspended in 2011 following abuse of staff, defecation on campus and streaking at major events. Other students also drew attention, including one student who announced “Everyday I’m gobblin’” whilst performing oral sex in a packed lecture theatre.

This year comes as only the second time that the annual inter-university sports tournament, Europe’s largest, had been cancelled in its 50 year history, with the other occurrence coming in 1978 when York pulled out following the discovery of several Roman coins on 22 Acres which led to York’s famous playing fields being dug up in a major archaeological project that was, ultimately, unsuccessful.

Happy April Fools’ day! Tickets for the Rugby 1sts at Huntington Stadium will be available from the YUSU site later in the week.

65 thoughts on “Roses cancelled following Lancaster withdrawal

  1. Lancaster are such spoil sports. We all saw that last year… Not surprised tbh

  2. Well at least I’ve still got those sick promo photos of me to show all my friends at home. Told them I was a BNOC.

  3. This flora sipol is such a bearer of bad news, first announcing exactly one year ago today that willow was shutting forever and now this!

  4. April Fool. Flora Sipol. Do try to keep up.

    (People who commented above are especially gullible)

  5. April fools obviously, but on a serious note Roses is a massive waste of time and resources, as is sport in general. Why not instead direct funds toward the fetish soc and have some kind of sexy carnival? Yusu should be open to suggestions as i certainly am

  6. Absolutely typical. Maybe we should just stop Roses with Lancaster Uni and compete against University of Central Lancashire instead.

  7. Bloody hell. That news has just about ruined my April fools day!

  8. They should be ashamed of themselves ruining what should have been the biggest most defining event in a a York students life.

  9. Would it be too difficult to do something similar with another uni? Probably not, but I’m sure people will assure us that is. On a side note, getting so drunk that you cause yourself an injury is not something to be admired or pitied – most professional sportspeople would be sanctioned for such behaviour.

  10. Mhh before you trash lancaster it would maybe be a good idea to know what the date is.

  11. A barely believable story and a poorly faked tweet is all that’s needed to convince York students, even on April fools day. Clearly roses is still happening and advice to bitter York students let your hair down, your aloud to have fun at roses even if you will have just lost.

  12. Bunch of tools….. ever heard of an april fools? This is why you go to York uni :)

  13. Man I just hate Lancaster, they have basically ruined my life.

  14. It’s a good thing they’ve let us know on the first of this month, April. I’d be a fool to think they’ll change their minds but at least we’ve got a month’s notice.

  15. If York’s sporting ability is in line with the intelligence of comments above, it should be an easy win for Lancaster this year.

  16. Man I just love Lancaster, they have basically made my life.

  17. *Brilliant Banter*, York. Only one of the teams mentioned in the above article were in Salou.

  18. why cannot Lancaster take a lead from the impeccable behaviour of the York sports clubs?
    excellent reporting Vision.
    this is arguably the most factual piece you have done this year.

  19. This is terrible! I just went onto their Twitter page and the tweet quoted on this page is DEFINITELY on their feed! It’s as if someone has got us all with an April’s Fool! I really hope this isn’t true :'(

  20. considering only 3 teams went to salou, with no trouble, i find this very difficult to believe

  21. HILARIOUS. First time since 1978, that’s comedy. #love2013

  22. Maybe if you went to Lancaster university you would notice that, ‘Flora Sipol’ is an anagram for April Fools.

  23. Good to see a sense of humour hasn’t made it’s way over to lancashire yet

  24. I play for one of the teams you say that were on tour. Pretty sure we weren’t there.
    Before saying stupid things about the greatest uni ever, just check the date of this post.
    Dont worry, we still gonna beat you!

  25. Can’t wait to see Lancaster destroy York at Roses this year…as for Yorkvision, I’ve seen better banter from a dead corpse.

  26. has anyone noticed the date?? this is fucking hilarious. i love lancaster, we are gonna shit on york this year.

  27. sounds like Lancaster uni students know how to have more fun to me. Roll on Roses 2013 where Lancaster will smash York again!

  28. Does anyone know the last time Lancaster won an away Roses??

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