Cambridge Rugby Club putting together squad with a ‘nice mix’ for first ever crack at RFU Championship
While their identities are being kept under wraps for now, director of rugby Richie Williams is delighted with Cambridge’s recruitment work this summer.
Williams and his coaching staff have been busy planning for a first ever campaign in the RFU Championship following the previous season’s historic promotion from National League 1.
And although retaining a large majority of the squad was always a big priority, adding players with experience of the new level was also high on the agenda.
The signings are set to be announced in due course, yet Williams has been pleased with what he has seen so far in training.
He said: “We’ve managed to retain the players we wanted to stay and that was something we always felt was important. We’re going into a new league, somewhere the club has never been before, so to have that sense of familiarity was important.
“But we knew we were going to need even more strength in depth, so bringing in five or six new players was always something we needed to do.
“We had to delay some of the conversations with players because we weren’t sure if we’d win the league or not. It’s something you normally look to do just after Christmas, but despite the delay we’ve managed to recruit well.
“It’s not a huge amount of changes, but there’s no doubt it’s a huge step up so we need to be ready for it.
“The new players have already integrated really well into the group. I’ve coached some of them before and we have a nice mix.
“We’ve got plenty of players in the squad that have Championship experience and the ones that don’t are really enthusiastic to get going.
“We’re hopeful that the combination of experience and youth will provide us with the right balance to be a competitive team in the league.”
While Cambridge’s league season does not get under way until October 21, they will have plenty of rugby under their belt before the big kick off following last week’s Premiership Rugby Cup draw.
Williams’ team have been drawn in the same pool as Premiership outfits Northampton Saints and Bristol Bears, who they will travel to face on September 16 and October 6 respectively.
Fellow Championship outfits Doncaster Knights (September 8, H), Cornish Pirates (September 23, H) and Ealing Trailfinders (September 30, A) complete the line-up – all of which will help to ensure that Cambridge are battle-hardened for season opener at Ampthill.
“It’s the third version of the group we’ve had since the first draft, but I’m very happy with it – there’s a nice balance,” said Williams.
“Playing those sides from the Championship so early is a positive. In some ways it can serve as a slightly extended pre-season, but it also gives us a chance to see what their strengths are and how they play the game before league points are at stake.
“And for our club to be travelling to play Northampton and Bristol, that’s just fantastic and everyone associated with the club is really looking forward to those days.
“Those two play some of the most attractive rugby in the Premiership. To test ourselves against sides of that level will do us plenty of good.”
Prior to the Premiership Rugby Cup, Cambridge have lined up two friendly games at Welsh Premier Division outfit Carmarthen Quins on August 19 and at home versus lower-league Chinnor seven days later.
