The game takes place at Goldington Road on Saturday 6th December 2025 KO 3pm
It’s Round 9 of this season’s Champ Rugby – Craig Newby’s made a few changes to the side that faced Worcester Warriors last weekend.
Here’s Craig –
“Last week, we were tactically excellent in the first half and we took two really good opportunities on the back of two really good defensive sets. We made Worcester make mistakes and capitalised on them and it was brilliant. I think we had them rattled at half time. They obviously regrouped just ahead of half time and showed a bit of class in taking a couple of opportunities we gave them – then it was just the sheer weight of their momentum in the second half and we couldn’t get the ball or our momentum back.
“Unfortunately we couldn’t execute our strengths in that second period. We made Worcester work for their points but no matter how hard we made them work and the fight we showed, weight of possession told in the end. It was, as the old cliche goes, a game of two halves. We’ve been in similar positions this season – we’ve had a few leads, against Doncaster and Nottingham in particular. We’ve adjusted our warm ups and our tactics. We’ve tried a few things, changed a few things, and never given up.
“The challenge this week is to establish some dominance and confidence and maintain that. The Champ is a tough league – many of the results are close and tight. Some of the teams aren’t in their ‘traditional’ league positions. The Prem sides are blooding more talent in the Champ and that’s having a knock on effect further up the pyramid and to international level.
“It’ll be the first time many of our squad have played against Bedford this weekend so it won’t feel like an ‘historical’ local derby to them in that sense. We have to build their excitement, and the importance, in a different way. They won’t have experienced the atmosphere and the conditions and the slope of their pitch. They’re a dangerous side, especially at home, it’s an awesome venue, they’ve got a great crowd so it’s all about the stage and the challenge.
“It’s Billy Walker’s 100th appearance for the Club this weekend. Jake Ellwood made his 50th at Cornish Pirates in the last away game so he’ll hit 52 off the bench on Saturday. Ruaridh Dawson returns to the starting line up at scrum half. Otu Mausia is out – Ben Currie deservedly keeps his place at full back. Taitusi Qaniuci remains on the wing after his try-scoring debut last weekend. Back row Ed Timpson – signed from MLR side Los Angeles this week – will make his debut off the bench. And there’s a welcome return from injury in the second row for Jake McCay. Ethan Thorne has earned his recall in place of the injured Eli Caven.”
Cambridge squad
15 Ben Currie
14 Taitusi Qaniuci
13 Levi Reweti
12 Jasper Sorrell
11 Ethan Thorne
10 Jamie Annand
9 Ruaridh Dawson
1 Jack Boal
2 Jack Dorey-Palmer
3 Billy Walker
4 Gareth Baxter
5 Jake McCay
6 Rhys Fulford
7 Dan Eckersley
8 Ben Adams (C)
Reinforcements
16 Dylan Irvine 17 Jake Ellwood 18 Paul Wulf-Masoe 19 Arthur Thomas 20 Edward Timpson 21 Jimmy Thompson 22 Joe Green 23 Eparama Rokodrava