The chances of a repeat were said to be doomed when Harvard's senior co-captains withdrew from school last fall in the wake of a plagiarism investigation.

NPR: Harvard's 1st NCAA Win Brings 'Unexpected Pride'

"When Hafwen's LSA left no-one could communicate with her, so we withdrew her from the school, " said Mr Clarke, 45.

BBC: Legal threat over lack of Welsh-medium signer for deaf girl