The News and Media team are spreading Christmas cheer after the office festivities, including parties and lunches. The office is full of Christmas spirit as we put up the Christmas tree in our new home, 108, The Grange at Headingley Campus. The Communications department have been relocated to the Grange, and after spending a week emptying draws, archiving files, and throwing out over 30 bags of rubbish, our winter clean has been completed and we are ready to start 2010 with a new beginning and a new home.

The Communications and Marketing teams were brought together last week at the Christmas party, with a tasty buffet, dj’s and a dance floor. Cris certainly had all the ladies dancing, showing off his latest Strictly Come Dancing moves and the International and Health marketing officers certainly owned the dance floor that night. The evening was even cultured with Beth, Duncan and I showcasing our Irish dancing skills to the Pogues. The night was a great success that even Joyce made it in the next day (well about 1pm) to be congratulated by the team for organising such a fun and eventful night in Mook.

The office move has meant that each team within the Communications department are in their own offices in the Grange. As one final get together Branding, Corporate Events, Web and Multimedia and the News and Media team descended on Vodka Revs for a Christmas lunch whilst BMG worked tirelessly, hoisting over 50 boxes to the first floor of the Grange. We are now all settled in, and are waiting to open our secret santa presents over the next week as the team begin to go on annual leave for the Christmas break. On behalf of the News and Media team we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

Ash

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Cup magic begins again for rugby league's finest

It seems like only yesterday that we were at Wembley for the final of the Carnegie Challenge Cup to see Warrington lift the famous rugby league trophy. Four months have passed since that thrilling day in August and as many people wind down for the festive break, there's no rest for the Carnegie Challenge Cup as another year begins for the 112 year old tournament.

Leeds Met's Gandhi Hall was the venue for this year's preliminary and first round draw as amateur clubs gathered from around the country to discover their cup fate. 2009 trophy winners Lee Briers and Michael Monaghan were on hand to draw the balls out of the RFL's shiny draw machine and picked out some intriguing ties. The University's own rugby league team will hope to defeat St Mary's in the preliminary round to set up a home tie against student arch rivals Loughborough in the first round proper! Having reached the third round of the competition for the last two years, they will be looking to emulate that success once again.

The evening proved an ideal opportunity for amateur clubs to interact with one another and to dream of cup glory and the prestige of hosting a superleague club in the fourth round. Speaking with coaches and players of the amateur clubs after the draw it was clear to see what the cup meant to them. Whilst they realised that realistically they wouldn't get to hold the trophy at Wembley in August, they spoke of how the tournament gave their clubs a real boost, both financially and also in terms of confidence and motivation.

All in all, it was a great way to kick off the 2010 Carnegie Challenge Cup and I look forward to being involved in the great competition every step of the way. Before the night was out, I obviously couldn't resist the opportunity to have my photo taken alongside the famous trophy...