Cambridge Rugby and Chinnor RFC are very pleased to announce their participation in the Not The Premiership Cup. In response to being excluded from this season’s Premiership Cup the two exiled clubs will play for a trophy between themselves. The first game will take place under lights at Chinnor RFC on Friday 15th November, two weeks before the resumption of Championship fixtures.
Cambridge Chair Tim Hague explains: “We thought it would be a good idea to set up a little competition between ourselves, both home and away games, so we can generate some income and some interest and have a bit of fun along the way. We both feel let down by our non-participation in the Premiership Cup. There are financial consequences for us. And more importantly there’s a seven week hole in our fixtures after Christmas which is pretty tricky to fill at this stage”.
The return fixture will take place back at Ellgia Fields on Saturday March 1st 2025 – Cambridge Head Coach Richie Williams is looking forward to a couple of extra fixtures against a club where he spent a good part of his playing career: “It’ll be good to play Chinnor again. They’ve started the season well. Our return Championship fixture takes place at Chinnor at the end of the season so we’ll know each other intimately by then! It’s a little bit of consolation for missing out on four fixtures against Premiership sides. I think it’s great to have two more competitive fixtures against Championship opposition, especially with a trophy to play for!”
Chinnor Nick Stainton writes “Our exclusion from the Premiership Rugby Cup was an unexpected curve ball. Less games, less ticket sales, less beer. We needed a Plan B. The reality is that after our home game against Hartpury this Saturday we face the prospect of 5 weeks without any rugby at this level. Not helpful for a club just getting going in the Championship, our excited supporters and particularly the players. A rest is a good thing, but this is more like an off-season 2.0. We hope sports people across the nearby counties and rugby community come along and get behind us.”
1st leg – Chinnor vs Cambridge – Friday 15th November at Kingsey Road, Thame 7:45pm kick off
2nd leg – Cambridge vs Chinnor – Saturday 1st March at Ellgia Fields, Cambridge 2pm kick off
These two fixtures are in addition to Cambridge Rugby’s prestige friendly against World Champions England Under 20s on Saturday 11th January, which will kick off at 2pm.