Premiership Rugby Cup omission could work in favour of Cambridge and their RFU Championship targets

While the financial implications are far from ideal, on the pitch Richie Williams believes that his Cambridge side may benefit from their Premiership Rugby Cup omission.

It was announced last month that Cambridge – along with this weekend’s opposition Chinnor – had been left out of the competition after the decision was taken to cut the number of teams from 22 to 20.

Cambridge chairman Tim Hague responded to the news with a call for ‘significant compensation’, owing to the fact that his club would miss out on the chance to host established Premiership opposition at Volac Park.

But although director of rugby Williams would have welcomed the chance to test his players against some of the biggest clubs in the country, he feels that the opportunity for his players to rest could prove beneficial as the season goes on.

He said: “On one hand it is frustrating. You want to be playing against the best teams in England and being able to host some of the Premiership teams, that would have been great for the club as a whole.

“But in terms of the on-field stuff from a rugby perspective, we found out a couple of months ago we weren’t going to be in the competition and it allows us periods in the season where last season we struggled from an injury perspective.

“As nice as it was to play the likes of Bristol and Northampton Saints, it did take a toll on the squad physically.

“Potentially when it comes to the end of this season, it may be a period we look back on and think that it was a bit of a blessing in disguise that we weren’t in that competition from a rugby perspective.

“Of course there is disappointment that we’re not able to expose our players and supporters to playing against Premiership teams, but for us it’s about the long term and being more competitive in the Championship each weekend.”