2025 Blues Tour - Barcelona & Milan

Our men’s and women’s Blues embarked on a long-awaited European tour in March, kicking things off in Barcelona, a city famed for its sunshine, beaches and vibrant culture. Things didn’t quite go to plan at first: a last-minute Airbnb cancellation and a tight budget meant we had to abandon hopes of staying in the city centre and instead set up base in the lovely coastal town of Castelldefels, about a 35-minute train ride from the heart of Barcelona. To top it off, we arrived to grey clouds and imminent rain, not exactly the start we’d imagined.

However, neither the weather nor the accommodation hiccup could dampen our spirits. We settled into Castelldefels quickly and enjoyed several excellent days of tennis, making the most of the clay courts and training hard in preparation for our fixtures. There was even a beach day where a brave few decided to venture into the sea, the water was freezing, so they didn’t stay in for very long, but it definitely provided plenty of entertainment.

We also spent a couple of days exploring Barcelona itself, taking in the sights and sampling as much of the local food as possible. A particular highlight was visiting the breathtaking Sagrada Família and seeing the interior in all its detail. In the evenings we made the most of being by the coast, including a fantastic night out along the seafront that gave everyone a chance to relax and enjoy the city’s atmosphere away from the courts.

From Barcelona we travelled on to Milan, where we were extremely generously hosted by Bocconi. They showed us around their impressive campus and the city, took us out for both dinner and lunch, and introduced us to Milan’s incredible nightlife. On court, we played a superb fixture against them on the clay, with competitive and high-quality matches on both the men’s and women’s sides. It was a great opportunity to test ourselves against strong opposition while also building friendships with another university club.

Beyond the tennis, the tour was a brilliant chance for team bonding.  We enjoyed a fantastic ten days on tour, enriching ourselves with European culture, playing plenty of tennis and making some unforgettable memories. It was a reminder of how special university sport can be, not just for the competition, but for the experiences and friendships that come with it.

by Matthew Vale (Joint Blues Tour Officer 2025)