Ampthill welcome Bedford Blues to The Olney Field on Saturday following a tough game at Sixways playing Worcester Warriors away last Friday night.
Head Coach Dave Ward makes four changes to the starting XV from Warriors – two in both the forwards and backs.
Harrison Courtney returns at loosehead alongside Samson Adejimi at hooker and Callum Norrie at tighthead. Locks Tatoa Auvaa and Kennedy Sylvester form the same lock partnership as against Warriors and they continue in the engine room. Ollie Mullarkey has impressed from the bench in the past three games and he gets his first start in place of Barney Merrett on the blindside, with vice-captain Charles Rylands again on the openside and Tino Mapapalangi steering the pack at eight.
In the backs, fly-half Louie Johnson makes his first start for the Mob since the win at Coventry away in April with Efan Jones again at scrum-half. Captain Fraser Strachan partners double-try scorer Oscar Wilson in midfield whilst a back three of Brandon Jackson, Seva Kava and Josh Barton will add some attacking intent to an already pacey back division.
Ward again names a six:two bench with Seb Smith, Richard Barrington and Jevaughn Warren providing cover for the front row whilst lock Olamide Sodeke and back-row forwards Charlie West and Reggie Hammick all make their first appearances of the 2025-26 Champ Rugby season. Player Coach Louis Grimoldby is also on the bench this week after playing three games on the bounce and he is joined by scrum-half Rory Morgan.
1st XV v Bedford Blues kicks off at 3pm. Gates open at 1pm with additional food, bars and toilets available on The Olney Field. There is no additional parking available for this game. Please do arrive early.
Thanks to Comfort Homecare for sponsoring the game. Tickets for the game are available at www.ampthillrufc.com
There will be one minutes applause before the game for long time member and player Peter Eversley who passed away recently.
Starting XV
1Harrison Courtney 2. Samson Adejimi 3. Callum Norrie 4. Totoa Auvaa 5. Kennedy Slyvester 6. Ollie Mullarkey 7. Charles Rylands (vc) 8. Tino Mapapalangi 9. Efan Jones 10. Louis Johnson 11. Seva Kava 12. Fraser Strachan (c) 13. Oscar Wilson 14. Brandon Jackson 15. Josh Barton
Replacements:
16. Seb Smith 17. Rich Barrington 18. Jevaughn Warren 19. Olamide Sodeke 20. Charlie West 21. Reggie Hammick 21. Rory Morgan 23. Louis Grimoldby