Throughout the 2023/24 domestic season, we’ll be highlighting a different club each month to showcase the great work being done in the community by clubs around the country and our club for November is Camden Capybaras.
Founded in 2018 by Rob Ingham Clark, Louis Friedlander, and Kees van der Sande, Camden Capybaras is a lacrosse club situated in north-west London that has men’s rules and, more recently, women’s rules sections.
Originally founded to fill a hole in the North London lacrosse scene, Camden Capybaras put a huge emphasis on inclusivity and community with the capybara animal being chosen because it is one of the friendliest and most social animals in the world.
They’ve become known within the online lacrosse community for their funny and engaging social media posts, particularly on Instagram, where they have gained over 1,300 followers; a modern approach that has assisted them in recruiting players by emphasising their fun, friendly, and inclusive values.
The women’s rules section is playing its first season in the South East Women’s Lacrosse Association (SEWLA) Division 2B league where they currently sit second after two wins from two.
Described as a “truly mixed ability team”, the women’s rules section features several international players including ones from England, Ireland, and New Zealand as well as some players enjoying their first ever season of lacrosse.
Rob Ingham Clark, who works as the Head of Lacrosse at Stowe School and Assistant Coach of the England men’s box lacrosse team as well as being a former Belgium women’s Sixes and Wales under-20 women’s Head Coach, is the current Head Coach of the women’s rules section.
The men’s rules section is led by former NCAA player and star of The Fly for the past two seasons, Louis Alhage, who takes charge of their three senior men’s teams competing in the South of England Men’s Lacrosse Association (SEMLA) Premier Division and Division 2 leagues respectively.
These teams currently sit in first place in the Premier Division and third and fourth in Division 2; they also take part in the London Local Leagues as well as the annual Southern Flags tournament.
Camden Capybaras’ men’s rules teams have players ranging from current England internationals and ex-NCAA starters to British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) players alongside new recruits who are taking their first steps into the world of lacrosse.
The Club’s teams train at the University College School in London on Mondays (8pm-9:30pm) during the season and at Regent’s Park on Wednesdays during the summer months with men’s rules section home fixtures taking place at Middlesex University and women’s home fixtures at The Regent’s Park Hub.
It’s not all about the lacrosse-playing at Camden though as they organise a whole heap of social events throughout the year for everyone involved in the club to attend; events such as formal(ish) meals at Christmas and the end of the season, themed-nights out, and sober team socials like pasta parties are hugely popular with the Camden crowd.
And, because they’re so well connected with other teams, clubs, and players in England and around the world, there are plenty of tour opportunities which serve up a mix of lacrosse-playing and social activities.
Looking to the future, Camden are hoping to see their women’s rules team and men’s rules second team promoted up the leagues in the short-term before also adding a second women’s rules team.
In the longer term, Camden want to have a genuine impact in growing the game in the UK by beginning to follow the great work that Spencer and Richmond Lacrosse Club’s have done in building youth lacrosse in the South of England while also continuing to keep sticks in the hands of graduates post-university.
Club Secretary, Emily Cumming, says that Camden Capybaras helped her to continue the fun she had been having while playing lacrosse at university.
“Having enjoyed lacrosse so much at university, I was worried that this sort of club experience would be behind me.
“However, in finding Camden, I have been able to develop as a player and enjoy getting to know my team really well off of the pitch socially.
“The club puts a lot of emphasis on encouraging new members to feel welcome from the get go which really shines through with the growth of the women’s rules side after only one full season in SEWLA.”
Official Club Handsome Man, Jay Moore, couldn’t believe his luck when he found such a welcoming club after relocating from Manchester to London last year.
“I’ve loved the game since I was a kid growing up in Manchester playing for WACs and the English Knights.
“After moving to London last year, I met a bunch of the boys at the train station and they ecouraged me to join.
“Ever since I dipped my toe in the water at Camden, it’s been a blast going to practice, games, socials and tournaments for the club! There are teams at all levels with great vibes all round!“
To find out more about Camden Capybaras and how to join their club visit their website HERE.
If you’d like your club to be featured in our series, please send an email to j.naylor@englandlacrosse.co.uk.