To an interested outsider, the Lent term itinerary of the University’s Rugby Blues is the subject of curiosity. A far cry from the hallowed turf of Rugby’s headquarters, the series of exhibition matches that take place at Grange Road in the New Year have in the past been a demonstration of battle-worn obstinacy, the players cutting a weary shadow of the lean, fired up figures that took to the field on Varsity match day.

However, with the announcement of Will Briggs as Blues captain for the 2013-14 season, there is change afoot as the Blues look to arrest the inevitable decline in momentum that sets in over the Christmas vacation: “This term, more so than in previous years, is the start of our campaign. In the forthcoming fixtures I will be looking to pick competitive sides”, says Briggs, who is 4th year medic at Magdalene. This emphasis on a January-December calendar, while contradicting both the academic timetable and the structural boundaries of rugby’s nationwide timeframe, is viewed by outgoing skipper Rob Malaney as crucial for making early strides towards the Varsity match, with conditioning a strong priority in the off-season to avoid starting from scratch in September. This has been implemented following last years appointment of James Shanahan as 1st team coach, a move that has, in Briggs’s experience, given training sessions greater purpose and intensity, while also redefining the role of captain to positive effect: “The experience Shanners brings as a coach is invaluable. He offers the captain a second pair of impartial eyes in the selection process, and personally, the restructuring will allow me to spend more time focused on the rugby and less on the administrative and organisational sides of running the club.”

As a player, Briggs follows in the footsteps of his predecessor, bringing a colossal presence to the pitch that is central to his philosophy on the game: “Physicality is essential. If you win the collision, you win the psychological battle. Win that and the game follows”. It’s a simple message, and one that is already in motion as the Blues continue their pre-Varsity regime of four gym sessions a week. There is still plenty of work to be done, as the Blues, in their first game since the Varsity match, surrendered a 10 point half-time lead to go down 31-17 against a Penguins International XV on Wednesday night in a haunting echo of the Twickenham implosion. The acid test will come later in the term as (subject to confirmation) the Blues will face up to Durham University. The 44-22 loss in last years corresponding January fixture served to satisfy the tired grumbles of those who contest Cambridge’s place at the pinnacle of University rugby’s hierarchy, a view brought to light in 2008 by The Independent Education Editor Richard Garner in his article ‘Why Bath vs Loughborough is the real varsity match’ and serialised through the publicity of Loughborough Students Union. Having captained both Durham’s BUCS winning side and the Blues at Twickenham, Malaney refuted this judgement: “It isn't a step down at all. When we lost to Durham last year the boys hadn’t moved since Varsity, and while it looked convincing on the scoreboard, we came back well after going 19-0 down inside 3 minutes.” At the time, the two sides were at completely different stages in their respective seasons, and the result was more reflective of this than of any great gulf in class; Cambridge had already reached the summit of their season before Christmas, and were battered on their descent by the Durham BUCS campaign juggernaut in full throttle. With the focus now on a more Gregorian system, the rescheduled match in March promises to be a thrilling festival of high quality rugby, with Durham currently flying unchallenged at the top of the Northern Premier Division of BUCS and seeking to emulate their championship success of 2011.

As the Blues move into yet another new era, is there anything standing in the way of a successful 132nd Varsity campaign? “At the moment, Oxford have the mental edge”, says Malaney. "That’s probably the main reason why we lost - after they scored their first try, the belief came crashing down.” Now at a stage where none of the current playing squad have experienced a Varsity match win, the psychological hold that Oxford possess could be tremendously difficult to loosen, but Briggs resolutely believes in their ability to do so: “Nobody in the squad needs any further motivation. That loss hurt us, and we're out to make it right. As we overcome the adversity and start winning matches, our collective confidence will grow - you can’t underestimate the importance of momentum in rugby.”