Leeds Metropolitan University - Rugby request kicked into touch

Academics at Leeds Metropolitan University have been urged by a local rugby union club to promote the game at their new-year lectures. University managers received an email from the Leeds Carnegie club, in which the university has a majority stake, asking: "It would be great if we could please ask to have some sort of presence at lectures. Leeds Carnegie could play a quick five-minute DVD to give a visual insight into the match-day atmosphere and get the low-down on the players. If this could happen at the first lecture or seminar in January, as I'm guessing this would be the busiest time for students ..." The request was forwarded to academics, with a plea for "only polite answers please". One lecturer, who turned down the request, said: "We are academics, not salesmen for the v-c's pet sports projects." A Leeds Met spokesman said it was entirely at academics' discretion whether or not they promoted the event and said the email had received some positive feedback.