Writtle University College and ARU have merged. Writtle’s full range of college, degree, postgraduate and short courses will still be delivered on the Writtle campus. See our guide to finding Writtle information on this site.

Our clubs

Our sports clubs are open to all, from elite sportspeople to complete beginners. We encourage you to come along and join in.

If you're a talented sportsperson and would like to represent ARU in individual events, there are a number of British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) events that you can represent us in.

Why join a sports club?

Joining a sports club at university is a great chance to:

  • meet new friends in a social environment
  • improve at your chosen sport, or try out a new one
  • represent our University in local fixtures and national tournaments
  • increase your employability.

How to join

It couldn't be easier to join a club and your membership fee is just £80 for 2023-24. 

We’re pleased to announce that 2023-24 membership will include:

  • membership of a sports club (you can join two additional clubs for an additional £20 per club)
  • Endsleigh Elite Personal Accident Insurance
  • access to training and facilities. Members won’t have to pay any additional fees for training sessions
  • access to coaching (where the club has a coach).

Sports clubs at ARU

ARU Siege is our University's American football team. As one of the larger clubs on campus, the American football team is always looking to recruit new players. Whether you're an experienced player or you'd like to try American football for the first time, our club is ready to welcome you.

To contact the club, visit the club directory.

To see when the club trains, check the training timetable.

Based in Cambridge, our archery club is always looking to recruit members and compete in local competitions. To join the club, you must have completed a beginner course. We run these throughout the year, so please contact the club president for more information.

To contact the club, visit the club directory.
To see when the club trains, check the training timetable.

ARU's Athletics Club offers access to first-class outdoor athletics facilities with some of the best coaching and training available to athletes in the East of England region, through its partnership with Cambridge & Coleridge Athletic Club.

The club welcomes all abilities and takes part in all the athletic disciplines involved in track and field, cross country running and road running. Some athletes represent us in BUCS, competing against other top universities in the UK, as well as local and national competitions.

Club membership includes:

  • access to training and facilities. Members aren’t required to pay any additional fees for training sessions
  • access to coaching
  • Endsleigh Elite Personal Accident Insurance
  • BUCS competition entry fees
  • transport to and from BUCS matches.

For more information on training and how to join the club, email [email protected].

We offer weekly 'no strings' badminton sessions, ideal if you're looking to improve your game or just have fun. To see when these sessions take place, check the Campus Sport timetable.

You can also play competitively by joining our badminton clubs in Cambridge or Chelmsford:

  • in Cambridge the Badminton Club is one of our largest clubs and is continuing to grow. With over 50 members, the club welcomes players of all abilities. Both the men's and women's BUCS teams have had success in previous years
  • in Chelmsford the Badminton Club caters for both men and women, with weekly sessions that offer both coached and 'no strings' sessions. The club has a men's team that competes in BUCS and is looking to establish a women's team. Whether you're an experienced competitive player or new to the sport, we'd love you to get involved.

To contact the clubs, visit the club directory.

To see when the clubs train, check the training timetable.

We offer casual basketball sessions, which are open to everyone, so come down and have a ball! Sessions are held weekly in Chelmsford and Cambridge. To see when these sessions take place, check the Campus Sport timetable.

You can also join our Basketball Club in Cambridge.

One of the largest on campus, the Basketball Club is well-established and caters for a variety of players. In BUCS both the men's and women’s teams compete in Tier 1.

Basketball is also one of our high-performance sports and compete in the national league. For more information visit our performance basketball pages.

To contact the club, visit the club directory.

To see when the club trains, visit the training timetable.

ARU has cricket clubs in Cambridge and Chelmsford.

To find out more about the clubs please email [email protected].

Our Fencing Club has more than 30 members, men and women, including beginners and experienced fencers. It's always recruiting so don’t hesitate to join them.

The club has a partnership with Huntingdonshire Fencing Club, in order to provide additional, high-quality training. The partnership aims to improve opportunities for our fencers, but also enrich Huntingdonshire Fencing Club with additional club members.

To contact the ARU Fencing Club, visit the club directory.

To see when the club trains, check the training timetable.

We have weekly indoor 5-a-side and futsal sessions for men and women in Cambridge and Chelmsford, as well as leagues taking place each semester. To see when these sessions take place, visit the Campus Sport timetable.

ARU is also home to several football clubs:

  • the Men's Football Club (Cambridge) includes two teams competing at different level in BUCS which allow all ability of players to join. The club has two training sessions per week so all members have the opportunity to participate and improve
  • the Women's Football Club (Cambridge) is one of the fastest growing clubs on campus. It's open to players of all abilities and experience. For those players who want to play competitively, the club has a team that competes in the BUCS league
  • the Men's Football Club (Chelmsford) is the largest club on campus with over 60 members. It's based at Melbourne Park in Chelmsford for training and matches on the 3G pitch facilities.

To contact the clubs, visit the club directory.

To see when the clubs train, check the training timetable.

We have weekly indoor 5-a-side and ftsal sessions for men and women in Cambridge and Chelmsford, as well as leagues taking place each semester. To see when these sessions take place, visit the Campus Sport timetable.

ARU also has futsal clubs in Cambridge and Chelmsford, which give you the chance to play competitively.

Whether you're an experienced futsal player or want to try a new and growing sport, the men’s and women’s teams would like to welcome you.

To contact the clubs, visit the club directory.

To see when the clubs train, visit the training timetable.

Our Hockey Club in Cambridge is open to men and women, and has more than 40 members.

The club welcomes players of all abilities and for those players looking to represent us, it has one male and one female team in BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport). The club trains and plays matches at Wilberforce Road, which is also home to Cambridge City Hockey Club and the University of Cambridge teams.

To contact the club, visit the club directory.

To see when the club trains, check the training timetable.

The ARU Judo Club in Cambridge is one of our most successful clubs, winning individual and team medals at the BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport) Nationals.

The club caters for all abilities including beginners who wish to try judo for the first time, with a weekly training session held on campus.

To contact the club, visit the club directory.

To see when the club trains, check the training timetable.

Come along to one of our Back to Netball sessions. Whether you're looking to rediscover sporting abilities you forgot you had or wishing to gain a gentle introduction to this great game, these sessions caters for all abilities. To see when these sessions take place, visit the Campus Sport timetable.

ARU also has two netball clubs, which cater for all abilities but also give you the opportunity to play competitively:

  • the Netball Club (Cambridge) is well established and a previous a winner of the 'Club of the Year' Sports Award at ARU. For those looking to represent us, there are two BUCS teams
  • the Netball Club (Chelmsford) welcomes all players, and competes in BUCS. The club organises friendlies against local teams to allow everyone to play over the season.

To contact the clubs, visit the club directory.

To see when the clubs train, check the training timetable.

ARU's Rowing Club is based in Cambridge, a city famous for rowing, and makes full use of its location. It has more than 50 members and caters for experienced members as well as beginners who want to try rowing for the first time. The club enters competitions through the year including multiple events on the River Cam, often including the BUCS Regatta and historic May Bumps.

The Rowing Club has a partnership with Xpress Rowing Club.

To contact the club, visit the club directory.

To see when the club trains, check the training timetable.

We have three rugby clubs at ARU, based in Cambridge and Chelmsford. The clubs welcome players of all abilities; they also compete in BUCS.

  • The Men's Rugby Union Club (Cambridge) welcomes new students to the sport. It's been successful in BUCS competition and has a partnership with Shelford Rugby Club, giving you the opportunity to play senior rugby at a national league level. The club also trains and plays fixtures at Shelford's ground.
  • The Women's Rugby Union Club (Cambridge) is always looking for new players. It caters for all abilities and welcomes numerous beginners every year.
  • The Rugby Union Club (Chelmsford) caters for male and female players. It's based at Coronation Park and works closely with Chelmsford RFC. The club is currently playing in touch rugby.

To contact any of the rugby clubs, visit the club directory.

To see when they train, check the training timetable.

We offer weekly sessions in Cambridge for those who are new to squash or just want to participate on a recreational basis. To see when these sessions take place, visit the Campus Sport timetable.

Meanwhile the Squash Club (Cambridge) caters for all levels from beginners through to experienced players. It's always looking to grow and looks forward to welcoming you. It currently has a men's team that competes in BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport) as well as a local league.

To contact the club, visit the club directory.

To see when the club trains, check the training timetable.

Try your hand at our weekly table tennis sessions in Cambridge and Chelmsford. To see when they take place, visit the Campus Sport timetable.

The Table Tennis Club (Chelmsford) has been established for a number of years and welcomes new members. It's open to men and women of all abilities. On the competitive side, it has a team competing in the local Chelmsford and District Table Tennis League and a men's team that competes in BUCS.

To contact the club, visit the club directory.

To see when the club trains, check the training timetable.

The Taekwondo Club in Cambridge is open to students of all ability and experience levels. The club trains weekly to improve their skills and may compete in regional and national competitions. It's always looking for members to join and increase participation.

To contact the club, visit the club directory.

To see when the club trains, check the training timetable.

We offer Beginner Tennis sessions as part of our Campus Sport programme, They're a great opportunity for beginners and those looking to improve their game and develop their skills. Each session focuses on different technical aspects through the use of games and different playing scenarios. To see when these sessions take place, visit the Campus Sport timetable.

The Tennis Club (Cambridge) has grown quickly over the last few years to become a well-established club at ARU, training twice a week as well as playing fixtures most weeks. Both the men's and women's teams compete in BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport). The club has access to coaching and indoor training facilities and would love to have you join them.

To contact the club, visit the club directory.

To see when the club trains, check the training timetable.

The Ultimate Frisbee Club in Cambridge welcomes new members and is ready to teach you how to play ultimate frisbee for the first time. The club has a men's team in the BUCS league and also enters women's and mixed teams into competitions throughout the year.

To contact the club, visit the club directory.

To see when the club trains, check the training timetable.

We offer weekly sessions in Cambridge and Chelmsford for those who're new to volleyball or just want to participate on a recreational basis. To find out when these sessions take place, visit the Campus Sport timetable.

ARU is also home to two volleyball clubs:

  • in Cambridge, the club is one of our top-performing sports clubs, with both the men's and women's squads forming part of our high-performance programme. The club welcomes members of all abilities and offers sessions to cater for all experience levels
  • our Chelmsford club has both a men's and a women's team competing in BUCS competition. The club caters for a wide range of abilities, including beginners and welcomes new members.

To contact the clubs, visit the club directory.

To see when the clubs train, check the training timetable.