After opening up their RFU Championship campaign last week with an away defeat at Doncaster Knights, Ampthill play their first game of the season at Dillingham Park on Saturday afternoon, hosting newly promoted Chinnor RFC.
New Signings Summary
The summer has seen a lot of new faces arrive at Dillingham Park, with depth added in most positions across the pitch.
In the front row, former Saracens and three-time Champions Cup winning loosehead Richard Barrington joined as a player/coach, alongside the signing of fellow prop Harrison Courtney, who previously played for Edinburgh Rugby. The Mob also added two new hookers, former Munster and New Zealand U20s International Rhys Marshall and Welshman Jordan Liney, who has played for Bristol Bears and RGC in North Wales having come through the Ospreys academy.
The second row has seen three new additions over the summer, namely Aidan King, Oskar Hicks and Jake Parkinson. King arrived from Australia where he played for Avoca Beach RUC and Eastwood Rugby Club with ex-captain Charlie Beckett. Fellow Australian Hicks having played for the Harlequins and Waratahs Elite Academies, as well as for Sydney University. Jake Parkinson joined The Mob after previously representing the Scotland U20s, and spells at Ealing Trailfinders and Watsonians.
The back row department has also been strengthened over the summer, with the arrivals of Karl Main, Lekima Ravuvu and Arthur Thomas. Main joined Ampthill following a stint at the Manly Marlins in Australia, and has also represented Scotland U18s and played for Edinburgh Rugby A team. Ravuvu is most well-known for his spell at Worcester Warriors before their liquidation, and has since played for Ballynahinch RFC in Northern Ireland. Arthur Thomas previously played at Exeter University and Bristol Bears before he joined The Mob for the 2024/25 season.
One scrum half and one fly half have been signed by Paul Turner’s side over the summer to improve the depth in the half back area of the squad. Former London Irish and Ireland U18s International Rory Morgan joined Ampthill over the summer having played for Cardiff Met in 2023/24 season. Fly half Evan Mitchell signed for The Mob after spending 4 years at Championship rivals Coventry, breaking into the first team after coming through their academy.
Versatile backs Vereimi Qorowale, Benji Joseland, Oran McNulty, winger Mason Cullen and centre Byron Sharwood have also been added to The Mob’s squad for the 2024/25 season. Qorowale and McNulty joined the club after playing some senior rugby in the 2023/24 season, the Fijian representing Doncaster Knights and Newcastle Falcons, with the former Ireland U20 international ending his three year association with Connacht in the post season. Benji Joseland played a key role in helping Exeter University win the BUCs Super Rugby in the 2023/24 season, and has previously made senior appearances for the Exeter Chiefs. South African born centre Byron Sharwood made his debut for Western Force in Australia, and has also represented the University of Western Australia and played for the Manly Marlins. Mason Cullen has spent most of his career before joining Ampthill competing in the FOSROC Super Series in Scotland, and has played for the Ayrshire Bulls and Boroughmuir Bears.
A full squad list for 2024-25 can be seen here
Last Time Out
Despite losing at Castle Park last Saturday, The Mob showed plenty of fight in the second half to reduce a 26 point deficit down to 7 points with 2 minutes remaining, until a desperately unlucky Semesa Rokoduguni try right at the death denied Ampthill a losing bonus point.
The game signified a new era at Dillingham Park, with 17 players making their first competitive appearances for Ampthill. The Fijian flyer Vereimi Qorowale and versatile back Benji Joseland opened their try scoring accounts for The Mob, alongside solid starting showings from fellow debutants Richard Barrington, Aidan King, Karl Main, Lemima Ravuvu, Rory Morgan and Oran McNulty.
England U20s World Cup winning hooker James Isaacs scored his first try of the season in the second half, with lock Kennedy Sylvester being nominated by the Ampthill coaching staff as the player of the match.
Opposition Focus
Chinnor RFC have had an incredible 12 months, winning National One and in the process securing their first promotion to the RFU Championship in the 2023/24 season. Winning a remarkable 22 out of the 26 league games, The Villagers averaged just under 40 points per game, and boasted two of the leagues top try scorers, experienced hooker Alun Walker (20 tries) and former Newcastle Falcons back Morgan Passman (18 tries). Their success last season came as no surprise given that they have a formidable coaching set-up including former England and Harlequins No.8 Nick Easter as Director of Rugby, and Ealing Trailfinders scrum half Craig Hampson as head coach.
The Villagers carried their title-winning momentum into the new campaign, scoring 9 tries in an emphatic 57-24 away victory at Cambridge RUFC in their first ever fixture in English Rugby Union’s second tier.
The Mob will know how difficult it is to host a newly promoted side early on in the season, needing a last minute Jevaughn Warren score to defeat then National One Champions Cambridge RUFC 28-26 in Ampthill’s first home game of the 2023/24 RFU Championship season.
Last Meeting
Ampthill and Chinnor have a history of playing each other over the years in National League 1 and National League 2, but the most recent meeting between the two sides was on the 22nd December 2018 at Dillingham Park. Chinnor had only just been promoted to National League 1, whereas The Mob were fiercely competing with Old Ethamians to win the title. Tries from Sam Baker (2), Aleki Lutui (2) and Will Foster helped Ampthill overcome an early 10 point deficit to secure a hard fought 38-27 victory, avenging the defeat earlier in the season in Oxfordshire.
Ampthill 1st XV v Chinnor kicks off at 3pm on Saturday. Tickets are available here
Versatile back Benjy Joseland marked his debut with a try.
Ex-Connacht full back Oran McNulty in action at Castle Park
Scrum-Half Rory Morgan made his debut at Knights
