New faces in Cambridge University squad for clash with Loughborough

Season opener at Grange Road

Rugby returns to Grange Road tonight (September 20) when Cambridge University host Loughborough University (7pm).

There may still be two weeks until the official start of the Michaelmas Term, but the Light Blues get their campaign up and running early.

And that is after a warm-weather training camp in South Africa.

Buchan Richardson, Jake Hennessey and Archie Russell are the new faces named in captain Charlie Amesbury’s first squad of the new academic year.

Richardson is a back-row forward who has represented Scotland under-20s and also England Students, arriving at Grange Road via Durham University.

Outside centre Russell is the younger brother of Scotland and British & Irish Lions fly-half Finn Russell.

He has also represented Scotland under-20s and arrives at Cambridge after recently completing a mechanical engineering and international studies degree at Strathclyde University.

Inside centre Hennessey is a Scotland under-19 cap who captained Harlequins to victory in the Premiership under-18 tournament last season and is part of their academy system.

Further bolstering their ranks will be flanker Nick Koster.

The 28-year-old is a former Bristol player who has arrived at Cambridge to study for a masters in social innovation.

Blind-side flanker Matt Watson and winger Ed Loftus will be hoping to carry on their impressive form from last year’s Lent Term, while there is also a welcome return after a long-term injury for open-side flanker Stephen Leonard.

It is a busy campaign for head coach James Shanahan, with 10 matches in the build-up to facing Oxford in the Varsity Match at Twickenham on Thursday, December 7.

The Light Blues won last year’s Varsity Match 23-18.