Leeds Metropolitan University
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Leeds Met sponsors the British Asian Rugby Association (BARA)
BARA 27 - 3 Bangalore, 1 October 2005
Wearing Britain 's national colours and sporting the University's logo and Leeds Met South Asia branding, the British Asian Rugby Association team (BARA), won the final of the prestigious Orange All India and South Asia Rugby Union Tournament, beating Bangalore Rugby Football Club 27-3.
Sportingly joining in the victory celebrations were British Council's Manjula Rao who has supported rugby development in schools in India and players from other participating teams including the Indian army, Chennai and the touring team from Lahore , Pakistan who won a special award. The BARA squad comprises players whose origins are from India , Pakistan , Bangladesh and Sri Lanka . Supported by the Youth Charter, BARA aims to promote community integration, personal development and healthy living amongst British Asians, encouraging participation in sport in general and rugby in particular. In winning the cup the BARA founders have fulfilled personal ambitions and in the process made many new friends in South Asia .
BARA is the brainchild of Jug Johal and Ikram Butt, a Leeds Met former student and one of the first Asian rugby players to represent England . The winning team included two former Leeds Met students and a further three are part of the development squad. Event support for the week was provided by Tourism, Hospitality and Events School master's student, Gaurav Garg and Jayashree Rahuram of Leeds Met South Asia. All were excellent ambassadors both for Leeds Metropolitan University and the game of rugby.
Ikram Butt said: "At BARA we are absolutely delighted to have Leeds Met as a sponsor for our tour to India as we know the University is 100% committed to the ideals of bridge-building and celebrating diversity, goals that have made BARA such a success so far."
"Sport is an incredible tool for breaking down the barriers between people and their cultures and we know that our India trip will help us form vital connections with the Indian people that will set firm foundations for the future - we are already looking forward to hosting the Indian teams over here at a later date."
Elspeth Jones, Dean of the Leslie Silver International Faculty said: "Leeds Met aspires to be a world-class regional University with world-wide horizons, using all our talents to the full. BARA will help us to convey this message, to encourage the communities to come together and break down cultural and religious barriers through participation in sport."
The link is the latest in a series of Leeds Met sporting partnerships and follows sponsorship of the 2005 World Club Challenge under the Carnegie banner and support for both the Leeds Rhinos and Tykes. The connection with BARA was originally established through another of Leeds Met's sporting partnerships with Bradford City Football Club.
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