In our last home game before Christmas, we debut a new home ground in Nat 2 West as instead of Topsham we welcome Clifton to the Rubber Crumb. It is a place of many incredible victories in BUCS Super Rugby in recent years, and now hopefully many more memories can be made in National League Rugby.

With the season rapidly reaching the halfway point, Exeter Uni has begun to slip slightly, however, there is plenty of promise in this side. Last week saw the boys in green push 4th place Camborne for much of the game, until 2 yellow cards allowed the Cornish side to flex their muscles.

The boys will be looking to right that defeat this week as we face another title challenger in Clifton. With fast, attacking rugby promised, the game will be full of festive spirit during the holiday season.

TOMORROW’S OPPONENTS

One of the oldest clubs in England, Clifton RFC were founded in 1872 in the King’s Arms Pub in Bristol. Always a very strong club in the Bristol area, they even collaborated with Bristol RFC for a match-up against Australia in 1909. Despite losing, the Lavender and Blacks have kept a strong bond with the city of Bristol.

Always being around the 4th and 5th tier of English rugby, they achieved promotion to this level as far back as 2009, as they won the promotion from Southwest 1 ahead of Bracknell. They have remained at this level since, bouncing up and down Nat 2 South, before moving over the Western Conference in 2022. In their first year in N2W, they were competing to the last, managing to finish in 3rd place and will be looking to replicate that this year.

KEY PLAYERS
Kofi Cripps – Formerly of Wasps, he moved over to Bristol Bears in the summer and after appearing in the Prem Cup early this year, the dynamic ball-carrying back rower has already impressed on loan.
Luke Cozens – After coming through at Bath and Gloucester, his consistent source of points coming through the boot has been crucial this season.
Freddie Myatt – The towering 2nd row scored and won match of the match last week, and comes into this one in exceptional form, especially in defence.

TEAM NEWS

With BUCS rugby hotting up for many sides, Elliot has rotated the Saturday side a little. Freeman and Gulley are placed in the front row by Owain Watts and Archie Alexander. The other change in the pack sees Finn Worley-Brady, fresh off making his 1XV debut replace Kane James.

There is a debut in the back line as Chiefs’ prospect Tom Burton is at fullback, with Jack Park moving to flyhalf. Elsewhere, Toby Ferguson replaces Barton-Byfield on the wing, and Dylan Power comes in for Gentry.