MATCHDAY PROGRAMME

Friday Night Lights are back at the Richmond Athletic Ground this week, as Richmond Rugby welcome reigning champions Ealing Trailfinders in Round 3 of the Champ Rugby season.

It’s set to be a huge evening under the lights at the RAG – top-quality rugby, great food and drink, and a buzzing home crowd ready to get behind Rob Powell’s men.

After opening the campaign with a strong win over Chinnor and a trip to the Wirral last weekend, Richmond return home looking to make a statement against one of the Champ’s benchmark sides.

Ealing have started the season in typically dominant fashion, recording big wins over both Chinnor and Bedford Blues to sit top of the table on points difference. As one of the league’s full-time outfits, they bring a blend of pace and power that will test every side they face.

Head to Head: George Nugent vs David Bridge
The RAG’s Friday Night Lights return, and the battle in the engine room between George Nugent and David Bridge promises to be a fierce contest of physicality.

Nugent has carried his outstanding National League 1 form straight into the Champ. A member of last season’s National League 1 Team of the Year, he was one of only three players to feature in every game for Richmond, and has started both opening fixtures again this campaign, a testament to his durability. Across the opening two rounds, he leads the league with five turnovers, underlining a crucial impact at the breakdown, and ranked among Richmond’s top carriers in last week’s trip to Caldy. Relentless in defence, and industrious in attack, Nugent’s work rate makes him central to Richmond’s forward momentum. A true club man, he’s represented all five of Richmond’s senior sides since joining at 19, embodying the character and commitment that defines the old gold, red and black shirt.

Opposite him, Bridge brings power and pedigree to Ealing’s pack. Standing at 6ft 4in, the former Leicester Tigers forward adds Premiership-quality to the Trailfinders’ tight five. He’s no stranger to the Champ either, with experience at both London Scottish and Cornish Pirates. In Round 1, Bridge topped the league for dominant tackles (5), anchoring an Ealing defence that led all teams in dominant contacts. A strong ball-carrier and destructive tackler, he’ll provide a stern test for Richmond in what promises to be a bruising contest up front.

Two second rows who set the tone physically and lead by example, this battle in the pack could prove decisive in shaping the contest under the RAG lights.

Adding to the occasion, the Under 13 boys take on Ealing Trailfinders on pitch 3 at 6:30pm and the Heavies will also be in action, taking on Guildford kicking-off at 7:45pm on pitch 7, before joining supporters for post-match celebrations in the Murray Judd Bar.

First XV (1-15)
Chris Freeman - Sponsored by Andrew Gordon
Will Goffey - Sponsored by Chris Mills
Luke Spring - Sponsored by Steve Hardwick
Jake Monson - Sponsored by Ollie Quigley
George Nugent - Sponsored by Robert Vallings
Miles Wakeling - Sponsored by Nick Preston
Jared Cardew - Sponsored by Stewart and Liz Barlow
Xavier Hastings - Sponsored by Willie Munday
Alex Schwarz (C) - Sponsored by Simon Barber
Callum Grieve - Sponsored by Graham Talling
Josh Addams - Sponsored by James Rosa Associates
Ronnie Du Randt - Sponsored by James Espey
Paddy Case - Sponsored by Geoff Hotten
Chidera Obonna - Sponsored by John Heaton
Greg Kitson - Sponsored by Mult Box Media Ltd

Replacements
Alex Post - Sponsored by Molloy/Barnes/Morgan/McGee
Barnaby Vaughan - Available to Sponsor
Jimmy Litchfield - Sponsored by Molloy/Barnes/Morgan/McGee
Donnacha Byrne - Sponsored by Mult Box Media Ltd
Ethan Benson - Sponsored by Aaron Adams
Luc Jones - Sponsored by Tony Dorman
Jason Baggott - Sponsored by Tony Dorman
Archie Brosch - Sponsored by Wim Bushell