Titans Ready for Coventry Challenge as Champ Rugby Returns to Clifton Lane

Rotherham Titans will make their long-awaited return to Champ Rugby at Clifton Lane on Saturday afternoon when they welcome Coventry for what promises to be a stern opening test to life back at level two.

Kick-off is at 3pm, with Titans embarking on their first Champ campaign for eight years following an extraordinary rise through the leagues that has seen the South Yorkshire club secure two promotions in the last three seasons.

After claiming the National 2 North title in 2023/24, Titans followed that success by winning National 1 last season, securing their return to the second tier of English rugby and completing a remarkable journey back to the level they occupied for 22 years, including two seasons in the Premiership, before relegation in 2018.

And there is a nice piece of symmetry to Saturday’s fixture, with Coventry being the side that replaced Rotherham in the Champ eight years ago.

The Midlands outfit have used their time at level two to establish themselves as one of the division’s leading sides, steadily building a reputation for competitive, ambitious rugby and consistently challenging towards the top end of the table.

That was demonstrated again last season when Coventry finished third in the Champ before their promotion aspirations ultimately came to an end at the semi-final stage, where they were beaten by Bedford Blues.

For Titans, Saturday represents both a new beginning and a significant challenge.

The excitement around Clifton Lane is sure to be palpable as supporters get their first opportunity to see their side competing in the Champ once again. But while there will be plenty of anticipation surrounding the occasion, Titans know they will need to be at their best against a Coventry side with considerably more experience of Cham rugby.

Rotherham’s impressive pre-season campaign has provided plenty of encouragement, with the newly promoted side showing their attacking capabilities and building valuable preparation ahead of their return to competitive action.

However, Coventry will provide a very different proposition.

The visitors have developed a reputation for being particularly ruthless when they enter the opposition’s 22. Their ability to turn pressure and field position into points means Titans will need to be disciplined defensively and make the most of their own opportunities when they arrive.

Set-piece efficiency, discipline and accuracy will therefore be crucial, while Titans will also need to cope with the physical demands that come at level 2.

For Head Coach Harvey Biljon and his squad, though, this is precisely the kind of fixture they will have been looking forward to.

After the hard work required to earn promotion, Titans can finally test themselves against some of the established names in the Champ, and Saturday’s encounter provides an immediate indication of the standards required at their new level.

There is no shortage of respect for Coventry, but neither will there be any lack of ambition from the home side.

Eight years after leaving the Championship, Rotherham Titans are back where they believe they belong — and Saturday’s clash with Coventry provides the perfect opportunity to announce their return.

Speaking ahead of the match Harvey Biljon said:

“We are very much looking forward to competing in Champ Rugby this season; the Sale FC game seems a long time ago now. I think it was great to wrap up promotion early and not to have to play in the play-offs, but that extra time has been taken up with facility development, infrastructure, recruitment and planning around this campaign in The Champ.

“Regarding recruitment we identified that we needed to bring in a few players in the forward pack, and I think we’ve found the right balance there, but also, we’ve maintained some continuity. With the backs we wanted to step things up another level and it’s a space I’m encouraged by with the recruitment and with some of the players that have earnt the right to step-up from National 1 to get an opportunity at this level.

“It’s crazy to think Rotherham haven’t been in The Champ for 8 years! It’s a team that I would have always felt was part and parcel of the competition. However, I’m not naive enough to think that the game doesn’t keep moving forward and I’m pretty sure that although I know the competition, it’s going to have taken a step forward.

“We look forward to hosting Coventry, and I look forward to welcoming both Alex Rae and Steve Boden to Clifton Lane. Both of those individuals have coached with me in the past; but they will have brought their own flavour into what they’re doing at Coventry.

“I think that was identified last season when teams talk about the attacking intent, flair and excitement in the way they express themselves as an attacking side. The speed and skill Coventry possess is there for all to see and there’s a reason why they were semi-finalist last season and we’re going to know all about that and feel that on Saturday.

“It’s exciting, we’re in a new era, but we are still Rotherham Titans, and we are very proud of that. We’ve seen how we’ve accelerated as a group, as a squad and as a club over the last two and a half years and we know we have a little way to go in this space still. It’s going to be a rollercoaster of a ride, but one in which we are all committed to making sure works.”

Titans: 15 Isaac Shaw, 14 Jackson Barling, 13 Lloyd Hayes, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Ben Cambriani, 10 Russell Bennett (c/c), 9 JB Bruzulier, 1 Alastair Donkor, 2 Morgan Veness, 3 Corrie Barrett, 4 Louis Guthrie, 5 John Okafor, 6 Travis Gordon (c/c), 7 Harry Stone, 8 Callum Bustin.

Replacements: 16 Louis Inman, 17 Zach Toerien, 18 Andrew Foster, 19 Curran Maguire, 20 Jack Baldry, 21 Lekima Ravuvu, 22 Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti, 23 Mitchell Lacey-Babalola.

NOTE: Cash only on the gate £20 members - £25 non-members - Cards accepted at the bar.