Cambridge University RUFC students look to catch the eye in annual Steele Bodger clash at Grange Road

Cambridge University RUFC head coach James Shanahan is hoping to unearth some ‘hidden gems’ during this afternoon’s (Wednesday) encounter against a Steele Bodger XV.

Today’s meeting marks the 76th anniversary of the prestigious fixture, which is widely regarded as the second biggest date in the calendar behind the Varsity Match.

And with the time gap between those two games having grown in recent years, Shanahan is keen to see some members of his ‘very young and very inexperienced squad’ catch the eye.

He said: “We’ve been doing OK going into the game but compared to the previous season there’s no doubt we’ve got a very young and very inexperienced squad.

“But with the Varsity being after the Christmas, we’ve got some good time left to get the lads up to speed and that means we’ve been able to use more boys than perhaps we normally would.

“This match is always physically demanding and the Bodgers always come looking to try to win – it’s a really good challenge in that sense.

“With the time until Varsity, what we can do is have a look at a few of the lads, whereas if this was the last game before Varsity we’d probably stick to our top 25.

“Some guys will get an opportunity that they otherwise wouldn’t have got and that means we might find some hidden gems – and that might be for next year. This is the sort of game where if someone impresses they can easily makes themselves a Blue either this season or the following season.”