The second half of the 2025/26 Champ Rugby season kicks off after a three-week break with the Mob making the longest away trip of the season to face Cornish Pirates.
The Pirates Mennaye Way ground was damaged by Storm Goretti resulting in the fixture being moved to Camborne RFC – a new ground for the Mob. The two sides met in Round 2 on The Olney Field with Ampthill running out 26-21 win, with Noah Calouri bagging a brace of tries.
With the break allowing recovery from a few injuries, Dave Ward makes eight changes for his first return to Pirates as a coach. Harrison Courtney returns at loosehead with Seb Smith starting at hooker and Callum Norrie at tighthead. Tongan international Justin Mataele partners Samoan Totoa Auvaa in the engine room whilst in the back row Ollie Mullarkey starts on the blindside with captain Charles Rylands on the openside and Fijian Kima Ravuvu steers the pack at eight.
In the back division, Efan Jones makes his fourteenth consecutive start for the Mob – the only ever present this season with returning player-coach Louis Grimoldby alongside him in the half-backs. Centres Siona Va’enuku and Oscar Wilson impressed in their last outing against Nottingham and start again whilst in the back three Seva Kava returns on the left wing, Sam Kildunne switches to the right with Josh Barton at full back.
Ward names a conventional five:three bench with a mix of youth and experience including Premiership winner Richard Barrington, club captain Fraser Strachan and Academy graduate Aaron Gear making his second Champ Rugby appearance.
Cornish Pirate v Ampthill kicks off at 2pm. Watch live on clubber.tv – a discounted half-season pass is still available or follow live updates on ‘X’ @ampthillrufc
Starting XV
- Harrison Courtney 2. Seb Smith 3. Callum Norrie 4. Justin Mataele 5. Totoa Auvaa 6. Ollie Mullarkey 7. Charles Rylands (c) 8. Kima Ravuvu 9. Efan Jones 10. Louis Grimoldby 11. Seva Kava 12. Sione Vaenuku 13. Oscar Wilson 14. Sam Kildunne 15. Josh Barton
Replacements:
- Harrison Dakin 17. Rich Barrington 18. Jevaughn Warren 19. Jake Parkinson 20. Aaron Gear
21. Rory Morgan 22. Fraser Strachan 23. Matt Salisbury