Peter Clarke admits he has to prove himself as a captain and player after being elected Oxford University skipper.

But the 25-year-old flanker, who takes over from Joe Roff, is confident he will be up to the task.

Clarke, who is the first Welshman to captain the Dark Blues since 1986, will lead Oxford for the first time against the Penguins on February 26.

He said: "I am ambitious and want to be in the best place I can to help win the Varsity Match.

"The challenge to lead that was tremendously exciting.

"It was a responsibility that I wanted to take.

"It's a tremendous honour to captain this club, but I won't be patting myself on the back.

"I will reflect on that next year. The challenge is to go out and win the Varsity."

Clarke, who is studying management research at St Cross College, was only a replacement at Twickenham in December, but came off the bench to win his first Blue.

Conventionally the Oxford captain will have started at least one Varsity Match.

But Clarke said: "Last year I was unlucky with injury.

"I know I'm a quality player and I have got confidence in myself.

"I know I have got a lot to prove, but that can only have a positive effect.

"I'm going to lead from the front in a no nonsense way. Players know what to expect from me."

Clarke beat five other rivals in Brendan McKerchar, Kevin Davis, Tom Gregory, Dan Rosen and Toby Henry to be elected captain, while Stuart O'Flanagan is the new secretary.

"We all had to do a five-minute speech and then ten minutes of questions," said Clarke.

"It was quite an intense and nerve-wracking evening, but I was just delighted to be elected."

Clarke will incorporate in his caprtaincy the ideas of those not chosen and added: "It will be a good thing that there will be plenty of leaders in the squad."

Having skippered Leicester Tigers Under 21, North Club, Brisbane and Chepstow Comprehensive School, Clarke has plenty of captaincy experience.

But how did he sell himself to his fellow players, who voted for him.

"The main thing for me was to create a culture where people could enjoy their rugby as well as one of ambition and commitment," he said.

"The Varsity Match is a high-pressure situation, so the more that people can relax the better, but the aim is to win."

Does succeeding such a high-profile captain as Roff put extra pressure on Clarke?

He said: "The pressure is on me in terms of delivering a Varsity result.

"The key is not to look back, it's to look forward.

"We lost last year, so we've got to look to change things and move forward.

"I will certainly be looking to Joe for advice, maybe I'll pop round to his place for a meal and a chat."

The last Welshman to captain the Dark Blues was Simon Griffin, another flanker, in 1986.

Clarke said: "I wasn't aware of it, maybe it comes on a 22-year cycle.

"It is just me in the squad at the moment, but I'm proud to be flying the flag for Wales.

"It is an interesting changing room at times with a lot of different nationalities, so there is always plenty of banter knocking about.

"Hopefully this year we'll able to do what the Lions failed to do in 2005 in blending a team together."

Oxford have just confirmed a September tour to Vancouver by which time all the new recruits should be in place.

Clarke said: "Now the focus is on the Penguins game.

"Then after that it's all about getting the wheels in motion for next season."