Oxford have been given a huge boost ahead of their 95th annual showdown with the Major Stanley’s XV at Iffley Road on Wednesday (kick-off 3.30pm) with the return to fitness of scrum half Henry de Berker and back row man Nic Roberts-Huntley.
Both men started in last year’s record breaking sixth win in a row over Cambridge in the Varsity Match at Twickenham, but have missed recent matches. De Berker is set to start, partnering Basil Strang at half-back, while Roberts-Huntley will be used off the bench.
Also back on the bench is full back Jack Holmes, who came through 40 minutes for the Greyhounds in their cup win over Oxford Harlequins. Fergus Taylor leads the side from the second row of a settled looking pack.
The Major Stanley’s XV is coached by former Scotland outside half, and current Worcester Warriors coach, Gordon Ross, and is set to include a number of academy players from a number of Aviva Premiership clubs, such as Northampton, Worcester, Wasps and Gloucester.
There will also be representatives from Richmond and Chinnor, who both have close ties to the Dark Blues, and the 2010 Oxford University Blue James Crozier is set to figure at full back. He is currently playing for Colchester RFC and will be joined in the squad by his brother, Tom, who has recently returned from New Zealand, where he played at hooker for Canterbury in the Mitre 10 Cup.
The Dark Blues ran out convincing winners by 50-0 last year, having drawn 26-26 in 2014. The 2013 game ended up in a 40-14 home win and it was 31-22 to the Dark Blues in 2012.
The game will be followed by a BUCS Premier South fixture for the Oxford Women’s team against University of Gloucestershire, the 2015 champions. Catherine Wilcock’s side won the away game and will be looking to build on their encouraging performance against Exeter University last week in a game that kicks-off at 6.00pm.
Oxford University: Daniel Barley; Tom Stileman, Henry Hughes, Alex Hogg, Ed David; Basil Strang, Henry de Berker; Kieran Ball, Edward Hart, Joe Morris, Fergus Taylor (captain), Andrew Grant, George Blomfield, Jon Marsden, Will Wilson
Replacements: Will Thornton, James Scaife, Hugo Lu, Nic Roberts-Huntley, James Beaufils, Jacob Goss, Dylan McGagh, Tom Dyer, Jack Holmes
The 135th Varsity Match and the 30th Women’s Varsity Match between Oxford and Cambridge will return to Twickenham on Thursday 8th December, with tickets on sale now. 2 for 1 adult tickets are now available online on all £28 ticket categories.
