Two of the university’s sports teams were involved in a fight last week after light-hearted chanting turned into a bar brawl.

The university’s Football and Rugby League Clubs started fighting about 10pm on Wednesday, 01 October, in Wetherspoon’s on Friargate.

It is alleged the fight broke out on the night of the teams’ initiation ceremonies.

This comes amidst national controversy over initiation ceremonies at universities, after the BBC received footage of an initiation ceremony at the University of Gloucestershire

It is believed about 100 team members from all years were in the pub when the clash occurred.

Football club chairman, Tom Bailey, said: “It was a bit of banter that had gone wrong.

“We were just having a bit of a laugh – singing like all the clubs do and then we got singing at each other.”

Matt Lees, the rugby league club chairman, said: “It started off with a bit of banter and they started singing, we started chanting.

“Someone threw the first glass – I think it was from their side and then it escalated into a fight.

“No-one was seriously hurt and it was over as soon as it started.”

Both chairman said nothing like it had happened before and said that both teams have a history of exchanging friendly taunts, but nothing more.

Lees said: “I don’t know why it was different to other times – no-one was expecting it to escalate into a fight.”

A barman at Wetherspoon’s said: “The rugby league team was chanting, but not at the football club specifically.

“The football club then started to chant at the rugby club, who chanted back in return.

“Someone from the football club threw a pint glass and it all kicked off.

“We had to try and split up 50 or 60 people before the police got here.”

Apparently few were actually involved in the fighting.

Bailey said: “After a couple of glasses were thrown there were a few pushes.

“Only a couple of lads from each side were involved.”

“There’s no problem now,” added Bailey. “We spoke to the rugby league lads and they agreed it was just a bit of banter gone wrong – it’s all water under the bridge.”

Lees said: “The captain of our team got banned from clubs for the night, so we just went to the Assembly to cool down. No formal action has been taken.”

Pluto was unable to obtain a comment from Lancashire Police.