This Friday 17th January, rugby returns to Iffley Road for 2025. At 7:15pm tomorrow, the Men’s Blues will be taking on Premiership opposition Leicester Tigers for the first game of the New Year. Tickets can be found here for an evening of fierce competition with bars and food trucks serving all night as the Blues take on 11-time Premiership winners at the home of Oxford rugby.
The history of the Tigers v Blues match stretches beyond last year's clash, beyond even the 20 years since their face-off in the 2004-5 season, when Oxford local, Tom Varndell, stepped onto the field. Varndell remains the second highest try-scorer in Premiership history, as well as remaining close to home in his roles at Oxford Harlequins and Oxford Brookes University. He remembers the event as a “fantastic experience” in one of his first games for the Tigers, looking back at Iffley Road as a “great place to play rugby”, so we look forward to welcoming him back when Brookes take on the Blues in the Battle for the City on Saturday 8th February.
Despite facing a star-studded Tigers team, including Tom Gregory who went on to become a Dark Blue (Blue #1117) and current Ireland Women's coach Scott Bemand who captained the side, Oxford won the day 19-6. The competition has become more difficult as men's professional rugby has advanced - not even 10 years old at the time - and we look forward to seeing current and future stars take to the field for both sides under the lights at Iffley Road, including Bemand's nephew, Charlie, who will join the Tigers squad facing the Blues this year.
The Tigers are currently sitting in fourth place in the Premiership, having played Exeter Chiefs and Ulster since the New Year, and taking on a Blues side who most recently played in Georgia on their December tour. With Luke Wyllie injured, flanker Otis Walker will be leading the team out as captain, just as he did in Georgia to a 50-24 victory. Please find the blog for the Blues' Georgian adventures here.
New Head Coach Ian Kench, a former Blue himself (#1128), has been proud of the club's drive on accessibility, with more undergraduates making appearances on Blues teams, including seven freshers so far this season. He commented that the squad was looking to play "a brand of rugby people would be excited to watch", driving and encouraging innovative and exciting play in his squad. This promises a night of great entertainment as well as skilled rugby, with mascots from local club Bicester RFC as their junior boys run out with the team.
THE 2004 TEAMS
THE 2025 TEAMS
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