Lucas Sayers | University Aspire Programme spotlight

With the third year of the England Lacrosse University Aspire Programme due to hold their second set of assessment days this weekend, we’ve spoken to some of the players who took part in last year’s Programme.

Lucas Sayers first started playing lacrosse four years ago in 2021 when he began studying at university and wanted to play a team sport.

“Lacrosse was unique in the fact that lots of players at university have never played before, making it a level playing field for everyone to learn the game.”

As is usually the case with athletes who pick up lacrosse at university, Lucas came to the sport having previously been involved in other sports: in his case, surfing and snowboarding, two apparently different sports from lacrosse.

However, the England Lacrosse University Aspire Programme believes that an athlete is an athlete when all’s said and done and rules/tactics of different sports can easily be learnt.

This has certainly been the case for Lucas who learned about the Programme through one of his university’s referees who recommended he attend an assessment day.

And, he hasn’t looked back.

“My favourite part of the Programme last year was playing with and against better players than myself and improving.

“It’s a great way to meet players from other university teams and meet people with a higher lacrosse ability, allowing me to learn more and think about aspects of the game I otherwise wouldn’t have.”

The England Lacrosse University Aspire Programme aims to identify athletes who are not currently a part of any England Lacrosse programmes but have the potential to progress into the England Lacrosse Perform Programme.

To identify possible 2025/26 University Aspire Programme athletes, England Lacrosse is hosting four assessment days in the north and south of the country.

Each assessment day will include men’s and women’s sessions lasting approximately three hours each with lacrosse coaching from experienced coaches from within the England Perform Programme.

2025/26 University Aspire Programme Assessment Days

Session 1

UWE (Lockleaze Sports Centre) | 16 November
Women’s | 10am – 1pm
Men’s | 2pm – 5pm

Session 2
Loughborough University | 7 December
Men’s | 9am – 12pm.
Women’s | 1pm – 4pm

UWE (Lockleaze Sports Centre) | 14 December
Men’s | 10am – 1pm
Women’s | 2pm – 5pm