Rotherham Titans play their first game back in National 1 since 2020 on Saturday, when they open their campaign against one of the title favourites Rosslyn Park; kick-off at Clifton Lane is 2pm.
It’s been a challenging few years since Rotherham were relegated after the 2019/20 season was cut short due to Covid-19. The RFU used a formula to decide the final table which saw Rotherham positioned 3.17 points adrift of fourth bottom Birmingham Moseley.
However, despite that disappointment and the belief they would have stayed up on merit, Rotherham refused to bemoan their bad luck and knuckled down to start a rebuilding process.
In part that was achieved last season, when following a titanic season-long battle with Leeds Tykes they managed to gain promotion after winning 25 of 26 Nat 2 North games.
Titans will look to build on that outstanding achievement this season when they take on the next-level opponents in National 1.
However, they know it won’t be an easy task and there will be a lot of lessons to be learnt along the way. Indeed, Saturday’s first-up opponents, Rosslyn Park, will surely offer one of the sternest tests of the season.
The South-West London based side are traditionally one of the best in the division; they finished third last season and have genuine ambitions to compete in the RFU Championship.
Going into the game Harvey Biljon has selected a familiar looking starting XV, but there will be 5 players set to make their Titans league debut.
In the front row all have previously worn the jersey as hooker Luke Cole is flanked by props and Co-Captain Charlie Capps at loosehead and Andrew Foster at tighthead.
Co-Captain Zak Poole is accompanied in the second row by debutant Curran Maguire, who was previously at Durham University RFC; whilst the back row sees John Okafor at blindside and new-recruit Travis Gordon, formerly of the Golden Lions, on the openside, with Callum Bustin at number 8.
The backline sees scrum half JB Bruzulier joined in the half backs by debutant Rob Povey, formerly of Utah Warriors, USA.
In the centres another debutant, Joe Mounsey (University of Newcastle Upon Tyne RFC) lines up alongside last seasons leading points scorer, Lloyd Hayes; with a back three of Tomasi Tanumi and Jamie Cooke on the wings and former Nottingham flyer Ronnie Du Randt at fullback.
Speaking ahead of the game Harvey Biljon reflected:
“Everything has been pretty exciting and a bit of a rollercoaster; it’s gone from winning promotion to getting a squad together for a National 1 campaign and then straight into pre-season. I think we’ve been lucky to get three really good fixtures, but none of those games count for anything until you start the league.
“I believe where this team starts and where it finishes are going to be two completely different places. There is loads of growth in this young group, with a smattering of senior players and I think it’s something we can look forward to.
“National 1 is an unknown for me, so I can’t compare our players to any of the other teams. It will be interesting to see which players step-up, because I believe we have players that have the ability to push beyond Nat 1, but it’s how they approach it, commit to it and embrace the challenge ahead.
“It’s going to be a long season and in our group we have a little bit of depth and it will be important how we find that balance, because it’s not going to be just 15 players that determines how our season develops.
Our pre-season games were very useful as they offered different challenges.
“I think whoever we were playing in our first game back in Nat 1 was always going to be an exciting challenge, but to have Rosslyn Park, who finished in the top 3 last season, means we are going to be thrown in at the deep end, but I’m not sure if any of our coaches or players would want it any other way.
“We’ve had a brief look at their squad and they’ve a handful of ex-Championship players, which means there is going to be experience and understanding from those quality players.
“You also have to mention the fact that Charlie Mulchrone is coming back to Clifton Lane. Everyone knows the impact he had on play when he was here and there’s no doubt they have some real quality within their squad. Added to that I think they had the top try scorer in national 1 last season on the wing.
“However, I want our players to go out there and continue to perform; we are growing as a group and we are going to get a taste for it. Clifton Lane is the place to be at 2 o’clock on Saturday afternoon.”
Titans: 15 Ronnie Du Randt, 14 Jamie Cooke, 13 Lloyd Hayes, 12 Joe Mounsey, 11 Tomasi Tanumi, 10 Rob Povey, 9 JB Bruzulier, 1 Charlie Capps (Co-Capt.), 2 Luke Cole, 3 Andrew Foster, 4 Zak Poole (Co-Capt.), 5 Curran Maguire, 6 John Okafor, 7 Travis Gordon, 8 Callum Bustin.
Replacements: 16 Jack Bergmanas, 17 Loma Kivalu, 18 Rikki Stout, 19 Harry Newborn, 20 Max Green.
