It’s a big weekend of rugby at the Richmond Athletic Ground, as both Richmond 1st XV sides take centre stage in a double header on Saturday. The Men’s 1st XV open their Champ Rugby campaign against Chinnor at 3:00pm, before the Women’s 1st XV kick off at 5:15pm in Round 3 of the Women’s Championship South 1 against Trojans.

For the Men’s 1st XV, the weekend marks a long-awaited return to tier two after two seasons in National League 1. Rob Powell’s side were crowned champions last spring, securing promotion with 21 wins and lifting the trophy at the RAG following a memorable victory over Blackheath in rugby’s oldest rivalry. With pre-season rounded off by a convincing performance against Cambridge, Richmond now look to lay down a marker in their first league outing.

Visitors Chinnor made the same step up a year earlier and finished 10th in their first Championship campaign. The two sides are familiar foes, last meeting in the 2023/24 National League 1 season, and both will be eager to make a strong start in the new-look competition.

Head to Head: Alex Schwarz vs Luke Carter
Saturday’s clash will be shaped by the battle at scrum-half, with both clubs led by experienced captains in Richmond’s Alex Schwarz and Chinnor’s Luke Carter. Schwarz was outstanding last season, making 24 appearances and finishing as Richmond’s top try-scorer with 12. A sharp organiser and composed decision-maker, he thrives on controlling tempo and linking forwards and backs, a role that echoes Richmond legend Alan Rotherham, who redefined half-back play across rugby in the 1880s.

Carter, meanwhile, was Chinnor’s leading finisher last season, crossing 15 times in 22 matches to sit joint third in the Champ Rugby try charts. Direct and dangerous around the fringes, his instinct to spot gaps makes him a constant threat.

Two leaders, two exciting styles, whichever scrum-half imposes themselves more effectively could well dictate the outcome at the RAG.

1. Theo Bevacqua - Andy / Lynda Quigley
2. Will Goffey - Chris Mills
3. Luke Spring - Steve Hardwick
4. Jake Monson (VC) - Ollie Quigley
5. George Nugent - Robert Vallings
6. Miles Wakeling - Nick Preston
7. Jared Cardew - Stewart and Liz Barlow
8. Xavier Hastings - Willie Munday
9. Alex Schwarz (C) - Simon Barber
10. Callum Grieve - Graham Talling
11. Josh Addams - Richmond Rugby Community Team
12. James Langston - Patrick Way
13. Ronnie Du Randt - James Espey
14. Chidera Obonna - John Heaton
15. Greg Kitson - Mult Box Media Ltd

16. Harry Hocking - Charlie Hodge
17. Seb Brownhill - Baba Devani
18. Jimmy Litchfield - Molloy/Barnes/Morgan/McGee
19. Donnacha Byrne - Mult Box Media Ltd
20. Henry Wills - Metatrak
21. Luc Jones - Tony Dorman
22. Jason Baggott - Tony Dorman
23. Tololima Savaiinaea - Nicholas Clement-Jones