JOHN Carter said the encouragement of others played a key role in his decision to stand for a second year as Oxford University captain.

And having become the first player in 44 years to be re-elected, the 30-year-old back-row forward is relishing another spell at the helm.

Carter, who led the Dark Blues to a 28-10 victory in the 2011 Varsity Match, is the first skipper since Welshman Bob Phillips in 1967 and 1968 to retain the role.

“I am very excited to have the job again,” said Carter. “I was encouraged to go for it by a lot of people and I enjoyed it last year.

“I felt that I could give another year to it as fully as I did last year.”

In his post-match interview on Sky Sports, man-of-the-match Karl Outen had suggested the 2011 Varsity clash was Carter’s final game of rugby.

Carter said: “Karl Outen retired me, but I wasn’t planning on doing that.

“However, I think this will be my last year.”

Having had different coaches for the last three Varsity Matches in Steve Hill, Murray Henderson and James Wade, Carter will provide some stability.

“There have been a lot of changes at the club over the last three years and hopefully I can provide a bit of continuity and keep things going in the right direction,” he said.

After leading Oxford to an emphatic success last year, did Carter consider that he could spoil his legacy with a defeat in 2012?

He stressed: “There is always a danger that the outside world sees us as not living up to last year if we lose.

“But in terms of living up to what I hope to do, which is taking the club forward and getting the players enjoying playing, I’m sure we’ll live up to that.

“There is a lot of pressure on winning and losing, but I don’t judge the season on the outcome of that one match.”

Carter cut an even more distinctive figure at Twickenham after a first-half punch from Cambridge University No 8 Dave Allen left him with a black eye that the medical team had to bandage up.

He said: “I couldn’t remember much about the match, but I have now watched it on video. It is a video that I will enjoy for a long time.

“In terms of how we played, I was very happy. I was very pleased with the technical side and the spirit shown by the players.”

Carter said Oxford will continue with James Wade as head coach, James Gaunt as backs coach and Charlie Hodgson, Marco Ventzel and Wayne Thompson providing specialist sessions.

Meanwhile, Cambridge have elected flanker Rob Malaney as their new captain to succeed Matt Guinness-King.