Our 1923 Side are back in action this weekend…they take on the Light Blues of Cambridge University in the first of this season’s Town v Gown battles. It’s also the first time the Men’s Town/Gown has taken place at the home of Cambridge Rugby.
We caught up with Academy Manager Josh Sharp for a look at how the 1923s have progressed over the summer…
“What a summer it’s been! Being here week in week out with the Academy players, having games against Ampthill 1881s and Coventry U23s , seven senior Academy boys training with the 1st Team squad – it’s moved on so much from where we finished last season against the Lambs XV. This Sunday is another opportunity to show what we’ve got in an historic fixture for the Club against an equally historic opponent! for the Senior boys, there’s obviously the aspect of learning about the technical and tactical side of the game alongside established players, and younger pros who are further along the pathway – a chance to see what Champ and high-quality coaches expect. That holistic effect, of being around experienced players, players that are seasoned pros, players that have come from top universities and from abroad, from different rugby cultures, is massively important. As a result their rugby has gone through the roof and the character and development they’re showing is incredible.
“The thing I’m proudest about is the routes into our Academy. We don’t go round identifying talent – we accept players in. There’s a link on the website, click here – where players can put themselves forward or be nominated, they can come and have a shot, come and learn. We want players to learn and develop and then there’s the competitive edge, our fixtures, and I think we accomodate everyone. We’re always looking to find talent, so there are several ways ‘in’ for us to do that. We don’t poach players, this programme is meant to be an addition to what they do at school, at college, at uni and at other clubs. We’re here to help players, and the game, develop.
“This weekend against the Light Blues is going to be a great experience. With just 2 or 3 wins and a draw in the entire history of the Town/Gown there’s an opportunity for us, Cambridge Rugby, to lay down a marker. The result matters, we want to do the Club proud, and the players are well aware of the history of the fixture so it’ll challenge them in many ways, which is what we want. Stef Liebenberg will be coaching from our bench, it’ll be the first time he’s been in off-field opposition to his old half-back partner, James Shanahan, who’s in charge of the Light Blues and I’m looking forward to seeing that, too! There’s a lot of exciting talent on view, players like Harry Bellamy, Clark and Preston Macfarlane, who’ve been around our 1st XV squad for a while, and if I wasn’t here already, I know where I’d want to be at 3 o’clock this coming Sunday afternoon!”