Position: Bow Nationality: Canadian Age: 23 Height: 6ft 1in (1.85m) Weight: 83.5kg

Pommen previously studied at Harvard University, where he captained the Harvard Heavyweight Crew in 2001-2002.

The Pembroke College student was the first member of his family to take up rowing, but his successes have inspired his mum to take up recreational rowing.

Kristopher Coventry

Position: 2-Strokeside Nationality: Australian Age: 25 Height: 6ft 5in (1.96m) Weight: 89kg

The 25-year-old chemistry student was named Australian national champion in the coxed four last year.

A talented sportsman, Coventry was college swimming and badminton champion at the University of Melbourne, and has represented West Brunswick at Aussie Rules.

Hugo Mallinson

Position: 3-Bowside Nationality: American Age: 23 Height: 6ft 5in (1.96m) Weight: 96kg

This is the first appearance in the Boat Race for the post-graduate engineering student.

The American comes from a sporting family - his cousin, Hope Barnes was captain of the US women's crew at the 1984 Olympics.

Matthias Kleinz

Position: 4-Strokeside Nationality: German Age: 27 Height: 6ft 2in (1.88m) Weight: 83kg

Kleinz is a former junior world champion in the coxless four and has represented Germany four times at the world championships.

His sister is a double world champion in the women's lightweight quad scull, while his girlfriend was a silver medallist at the Sydney Olympics in the women's lightweight double scull.

Alexander McGarel-Groves

Position: 5-Bowside Nationality: British Age: 22 Height: 6ft 6in (1.98m) Weight: 97kg

This is the 22-year-old's debut in the Boat Race, although he has twice rowed for Goldie in the reserve race.

McGarel-Grove was inspired to take up the sport by his father, who was in the Goldie boat, and his uncle, who is an Oxford Blue.

Thomas James

Position: 6-Strokeside Nationality: British Age: 19 Height: 6ft 3in (1.91m) Weight: 86kg

The youngest oarsman in the Cambridge boat, James only took up rowing after a knee injury, picked up at school, curtailed his running career.

The engineering student is a former national champion in the coxless fours, and last year won a silver medal at the World Junior Championships in the same event.

James Livingston

Position: 7-Bowside Nationality: British Age: 22 Height: 6ft 5in (1.96m) Weight: 95kg

Livingston is a returning Blue having rowed in Oxford's losing crew in 2002. He has also rowed in the reserve race twice, winning in Goldie in 2001 and losing 12 months earlier.

His brother David is appearing for the Dark Blues, while Livingston's best friend at school was Matt Smith, this year's Oxford president.

Tim Wooge (President)

Position: Stroke Nationality: German Age: 30 Height: 6ft 7in (2.00m) Weight: 100kg

Wooge returns for the Light Blues for a third time having rowed in Cambridge's winning crews in 1999 and 2001.

The PhD student is Cambridge's first ever German president.

James Omartian

Position: Cox Nationality: American Age: 23 Height: 5ft 6in (1.68m) Weight: 55kg

This is Omartian's first appearance in the Boat Race, although he has twice competed for Harvard in the American equivalent.