Jonathan Marsden will lead Oxford University against the British Police at Iffley Road as Dark Blues Head Coach James Wade casts his eye over fringe players hoping to push for a place against Cambridge in the ‘Battle of the Blues’ at Twickenham on Thursday, 8 December.
Marsden already knows what it takes to beat the Light Blues on the sporting field having led the Oxford cricket club to a hat-trick of triumphs over their biggest rivals in the three-forms of Varsity Match cricket – the first captain to achieve such a feat.
The 23-year-old second row takes over the captain’s armband from fellow lock Fergus Taylor, who is one of a number of key players given a breather as the countdown to next month’s attempt to make it seven wins in a row over Cambridge shortens.
Fresh from scoring seven tries in their 45-7 win over Croatia in Zagreb, Oxford have given teenage back row man Jacob Goss a chance to shine after returning to full fitness after injury. He will pack down alongside Scottish warhorse Graeme Macgilchrist and Aussie recruit James Beaufils in the club’s first game against British Police.
The visitors will arrive having last month been beaten 34-21 by the French Military XV at East London RFC. They contain players from 15 forces around the UK and Northern Ireland and have a number of experienced club players in their ranks.
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.
Oxford University: Matt Geiger; Ed David, Tom Stileman, Alex Hogg, Daniel Barley; Basil Strang, Dylan McGagh; Hugo Lu, William Thornton, Joseph Morris, Jonathan Marsden, Andrew Grant, George Blomfield, James Beaufils, Graeme MacGilchrist
Reps: Noah Miller, Paul Childs, Christian Goldsmith, Hugo McPherson, John Aaron Henry, Jacob Goss, Sebastian Haddock, Tom Dyer, Joe Miller
British Police Squad: Ben Cole (Devon & Cornwall), Kevin Allen, Alun Davies (Dyfed Powys), Chris Roddy (Greater Manchester), Kyle Tayler (Gwent), James Perrins (Leicestershire), David Aldam, Chris Aldam (Metropolitan), Ian Gerrard, Tony Moody (Northumbria), Llyr Griffiths (Nottinghamshire),
Steve Rutledge, Stuart Morrow (PSNI), Sam Johnson, Ryan Moffat, Russell McKeown, Ross Bradford,
Craig Russell (Police Scotland), Ceri Young, Dai Francis (South Wales), Luke Hardern (Staffordshire),
Cameron Zeiss (Surrey), Joe Heatley (West Mercia), Chris Scott (West Midlands)
