Bringing together 70 sports disciplines under one umbrella, Edinburgh Wildcats showcases the sporting prowess from Scotland’s number one sporting university
The University of Edinburgh Sport has unveiled the Edinburgh Wildcats – bringing together all 70 sporting disciplines, from rugby to archery and weightlifting, to showcase the incredible sports prowess of the university.
In a move that will see the university become the first in the UK to adopt the American collegiate sporting model, Edinburgh Wildcats is the country’s biggest multi-sports club and creates a movement that will encourage the community of Edinburgh to get behind the university’s talented athletes.
Bringing together more than 10,000 students across 200 teams, Edinburgh Wildcats has been created to reflect the community built at the University of Edinburgh Sport, which has supported both alumni and current students to compete across a range of competitions, including the most recent Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Paris Olympics and Paralympics.
Scotland’s most decorated athlete, double Olympian Eilidh Doyle, is leading the charge for Edinburgh Wildcats. An alumna of the University and Global Ambassador for Sport, she said: “The facilities and support that young and emerging athletes receive from the university is second to none.
“Through Edinburgh Wildcats this feeling and belief in the achievements that can be created through hard work, dedication and perseverance has been captured.
“It brings all of the athletes together, allowing them to share in one passion and one journey for greatness, while also allowing the local community to get behind them and show their support.”
Mark Munro, University of Edinburgh Director of Sport and Active Health, said: “At the University of Edinburgh Sport we have been able to support a phenomenal number of athletes to perform on a global stage across so many disciplines.
“Through Edinburgh Wildcats our aim is to bring these athletes together and create a space in which to champion the incredible talent that lies within current students and alumni who have come through our doors.
“The facilities here at the university are second to none, something that can be seen from the volume of international teams choosing to train here while visiting Scotland, and this, paired with the fantastic support of our staff, comes together to create an environment that pushes athletes to greatness.
“Our hope is that through Edinburgh Wildcats we’ll be able to welcome even more students and spectators to discover the sporting expertise we are known for.”
Friday 18 September will see the first official rollout of the Edinburgh Wildcats, during the men’s rugby varsity match at Hive Stadium, Murrayfield where The University of Edinburgh will take on St Andrews University in the World’s oldest Varsity match.
Residents across the capital will also see the new team name put in the spotlight over the coming week, with billboards and digital adverts going live throughout the city.
Featuring world-class training facilities, The University of Edinburgh Sport is renowned as the number one sports University in Scotland and one of the best in Europe. For over 150 years, the university has assisted some of the most decorated athletes and sporting communities in the world – from Olympians to pioneering researchers – creating a lasting legacy that sees its impact reach across the world.
Notable alumni include Multiple Olympic champion cyclist Sir Chris Hoy; Britain’s most decorated female Olympian, Baroness Katherine Grainger; Scottish Rugby Head Coach,Gregor Townsend; and Commonwealth Games swimmer Archie Goodburn.
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