Having finished their league season in defeat at home to Doncaster last week, Nottingham Rugby\u2019s attention now draws to the RFU Championship Cup and a two leg tie against Bedford Blues in the first round of the competition which starts tonight at Lady Bay (7:30pm).<\/p>\n
The club state, after a disappointing season, that \u201cThe cup offers opportunity to showcase a different brand of rugby and provide clubs (in the division) opportunity to explore more avenues for success\u201d with Head Coach Craig Hammond saying \u201cIt\u2019s another opportunity for our guys to put on the shirt, we\u2019re excited and competition for places is good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nottingham will likely give minutes to as many as their team as possible as they look to take on the Blues<\/em> over a two leg format to reach the Quarter Finals of the competition.<\/p>\n Although the 2021 competition was cancelled due to COVID, Nottingham were left even more frustrated in 2020 after reaching the semi-finals before their match verses Ealing Trailfinders was cancelled due to the global pandemic.<\/p>\n Against Bedford who finished their season in fifth, Nottingham who ended their campaign tenth, out of eleven teams in the league, were beaten 40-9 at Goldington Road in November before a 22-47 defeat at the Bay in February.<\/p>\n A tough ask ahead, Coach Hammond stating \u201cWe know what they\u2019re like and we know their strengths, they\u2019ve got a really good coaching team and love to throw the ball around and play and have caused us a lot of trouble the last few times we\u2019ve played them.\u201d<\/p>\n Starting Team:<\/strong> Aniseko Sio, Archie Vanes, Dan Richardson, Lewis Chessum, Scott Hall, Jacob Wright, Nathan Tweedy, Emeka Iione, Sam Edwards, Morgan Bunting, James Peachey, Jacob Cusick, Charlie Thacker (c), Harry Graham, Jack Stapley.<\/p>\n