The Lambs’ competitive season begins this weekend with their annual fixture against IQ Rugby at Warwick School.
The Lambs enjoyed a successful Chairman’s Day last Sunday despite the icy conditions and have selected a 20 man squad for the fixture, their first of six on the books for the season so far.
The game kicks off at 2pm on Sunday, and will be followed by games against Coventry Rugby Academy on the 5th February, Boys Club of Wales on the 12th, Crawshays Welsh XV on the 18th, and Ealing Tralfinders Academy on the 24th. They then have a couple of months break before taking on Exeter Chiefs Academy on the 16th April.
Lambs 2023 Fixtures
Irish Exiles 29th January
Coventry Rugby Academy 5th February
Boys Club of Wales 12th February
Crawshays Welsh 18th February
Ealing Trailfinders Academy 24th February
Exeter Chiefs Academy 16th April
The Lambs’ 20-man squad for the game is made up of players from sixteen different schools. They are led by co-captains O Musk and F Usher, from Abingdon and King’s Macclesfield respectively.
O Musk is in the forward pack in the second row alongside Berkhamsted’s J Hogson, and both players have schoolmates in the pack, Hodgson’s Berkhamsted teammate O Bustamante starts at openside and Musk’s Abingdon teammate O I’Anson is at tighthead. Alongside I’Anson in the front row are L Mayall of Ipswich at hooker and Downside’s I Jones at loosehead. Joining Bustamante in the back row are B Fordman of Exeter School at blindside and Stamford’s J Hughes at number 8.
Usher lines up at fly half and his half back partner in C Way of Taunton School. In the centres are West Buckland’s V Druma and Reed’s L Styger, while in the back three are M Pattison of Sir Thomas Rich’s on the left wing, I Adjei of Bishop’s Stortford High on the right, and Nottingham High School’s O McMahon at full back.
Usher’s King’s Macclesfield teammate H Milner is on the bench alongside Druma’s West Buckland teammate S Nasiga, where there are also two players from The Oratory lying in wait, O Winterbottom and E Umoren. Joining those four on the bench are Emanuel’s B Winnick and Mount St Mary’s College’s T Geering.
Off the field the Lambs have a few changes too, with James Vecchio coming in as National Manage/Head Coach. Director of Rugby Alex Layboure spoke of the excitement of Vecchio coming in, saying:
“I am looking forward to seeing what our new National Manager/Head Coach James Vecchio has in store with this very exciting group of young players. James will be supported by a number of coaches this season, meaning the Lambs programme will now open up even more opportunities for coaches, as well as players, to experience the truly unique Fast and Free environment. We have a fixture list that will provide players, staff and parents alike some great experiences on and off the field and we can’t wait to get going.”
Lambs XV v IQ Rugby: 2pm, Warwick School
15 O McMahon (Nottingham High), 14 I Adjei (Bishop’s Stortford High), 13 L Styger (Reed’s), 12 V Druma (West Buckland), 11 M Pattison (Sir Thomas Rich’s), 10 F Usher (King’s Macclesfield, co-captain), 9 C Way (Taunton School), 1 I Jones (Downside), 2 L Mayall (Ipswich), 3 O I’Anson (Abingdon), 4 O Musk (Abingdon, co-captain), 5 J Hodgson (Berkhamsted), 6 B Fordman (Exeter School), 7 O Bustamante (Berkhamsted), 8 J Hughes (Stamford).
Replacements: 16 B Winnick (Emanuel), 17 T Geering (Mount St Mary’s College), 18 S Nasiga (West Buckland), 19 H Milner (King’s Macclesfield), 20 O Winterbottom (The Oratory), 21 E Umoren (The Oratory).