“We met in Lounge.”
How many times have you heard that phrase in your student career? Five? 10? Well, the mystical place that is Lizard Lounge on a Thursday is exactly where we bumped into this lovely gentleman, our first Campus Cutie.
A friend and I were heading to the bar after the traditional mass stripping-off to the Baywatch theme had left us quite in need of a drink. We had just escaped the uncomfortably populated dance floor, when lo and behold, this handsome male specimen popped right out of nowhere.
We got chatting, and discovered that as well as being charming and helpful (rescuing me with a much-needed glass of water after one too many shots of toffee vodka), Rufus is in fact a highly successful and talented hockey player who originates from the Clifton area and currently lives in Ghent, Belgium.
Rufus is the kind of person you immediately warm to, and within minutes, I felt like I’d known him for years. He graduated a few years ago with a B.Sc. Hons in exercise and sports science from the University of Exeter, and is hoping to represent Wales in the Commonwealth Games this summer. Keen to keep in touch with this delightful campus find, we stopped to ask him a few questions about himself:
Describe yourself in three words.
Living the dream!
What are your interests, and what do you like to do in your free time?
I enjoy reading, going to the cinema and catching up with friends, but the thing I enjoy the most is going surfing.
How did you first get involved in hockey?
My dad wanted me to try lots of different sports so that I might get a bursary to a good school. He took me to Firebrands hockey club, where the coach was the then England and GB goalkeeper, Simon Mason. He made the training really fun, and I loved going along. When I went to boarding school, they were really into their hockey, and I seemed to be better at it than other sports so I stuck with it. I’ve now been playing for 17 years.
Where would you like to be in five years time?
This is a tough question, as I haven’t thought much beyond next summer’s Commonwealth Games. I guess I’d be happy with having a “proper job” and a gorgeous girlfriend! Perhaps living in Australia, too — I’ve always wanted to go there.
What three things would you take to a desert island?
Surfboard, unlimited supply of Ben & Jerry’s (Half Baked, if I have to choose one) and Natalie Portman.
What are you most attracted to in the opposite sex?
I find confidence a very attractive trait in a woman.
What’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever done?
Most of my romantic gestures have failed. I once left some flowers and a Valentine’s card in my then-girlfriend’s room for her to find when she returned to uni. She stayed at home a few extra days, and by the time she found the flowers, they had wilted and died.
Do you have any hidden talents?
I’m not sure you’d call them talents, but I can stick my stomach out to make myself look pregnant and I can balance my hockey stick on my nose for rather a long time.
If you could have a beer with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?
I would have a beer with my Dad. He passed away when I was 19 whilst skiing; I have so many questions I want to ask him.
Are there any powerful women you really admire?
There are so many sportswomen I admire. In hockey, Alex Danson has been at the top of her game for a long time and could easily compete with the men! I admire the Queen, too, of course!
Finally, do you have any exciting plans for the summer?
I am hoping to represent Wales at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, which has been a goal of mine for many years. After that, I am hoping to take my first holiday in five years!