Ampthill welcome Cambridge to The Olney Field in their final game of the 2025-26 Elior Champ Rugby season looking to finish on a high.
The Mob have won their last three games at home and will be aiming to extend that run before the summer break but Head Coach Dave Ward isn’t underestimating the threat of the Blood & Sand.
“We have to respect Cambridge, they’ve gone through it this season but every game I’ve watched in the last few weeks they’ve always dug in and come out firing. It’s going to be a much closer game than people think and if we’re not careful we’ll get upset”
Ward names a familiar XV for the final dance of the season – Harrison Courtney starts again at loosehead with Seb Smith at hooker. Jevaughn Warren has made the number 3 jersey his own of late and makes his seventh consecutive start at tighthead. Jake Parkinson comes into the engine room on his final appearance for Ampthill alongside Tongan Justin Mataele whilst in the back row Ollie Mullarkey reverts to his familiar blindside role with vice-captain Charles Rylands on the openside. Ward rotates his number eights this week and starts Barney Merrett with Tino Mapapalangi on the bench.
Livewire scrum half Efan Jones has Finn Keylock alongside him in the half backs – he rotates with Luke Davidson who drops back to full-back for this game. Club captain Fraser Strachan has Sione Va’enuku with him again in midfield for his final game in Maroon & Gold whilst top try scorer Oscar Wilson and Jos Heslop complete the back three.
Callum Norrie, James Johnston, Rory Morgan, Josh Barton and Louis Grimoldby will look to make an impact from the bench in their final appearances for the Mob – Grimoldby announced his retirement from the game earlier this week following a great career in Champ Rugby with Ampthill, Bedford and our opponents Cambridge.
Ampthill v Cambridge kicks off at 3pm. Gates open at 2pm. Tickets are available online from TicketCo at ampthillrufc.com or on the day.
Starting XV
1 Harrison Courtney 2. Seb Smith 3. Jevaughn Warren 4. Jake Parkinson 5. Justin Mataele 6. Ollie Mullarkey 7. Charles Rylands (vc) 8. Barney Merrett 9. Efan Jones 10. Finn Keylock
11. Joe Heslop 12. Fraser Strachan (c) 13. Sione Va’enuku 14. Oscar Wilson 15. Luke Davidson
Replacements
16 Harrison Dakin 17. Callum Norrie 18. James Johnston 19. Totoa Auvaa 20. Tino Mapapalangi 21. Rory Morgan 22. Louis Grimoldby 23. Josh Barton