NextGenXV will be live streaming from the final round of the 2022 BUCS Super Rugby league season as Durham University host Northumbria University.
Wednesday evening’s 6.30pm kick off at Durham University pits the top of the table hosts up against their near neighbours Northumbria, who are at the foot of the table, in what could be a title clincher.
The derby game will be broadcast live on NextGenXV with a familiar name and face to BUCS Super Rugby fans to guide you through the action in the form of the enigmatic Joe Byrnes. You will be able to follow all of the action live on our YouTube Channel and also via the embedded video below.
Durham are the reigning champions and victory on Wednesday would see them make it back to back titles, even a shock defeat might just do it as second placed Exeter University, just a point behind, are away to third placed Cardiff Met at the same time – a game that is expected to be a cracker.
Durham won the 2019/20 title and though the 2020/21 season was lost to Covid, the momentum gained from that title winning campaign has remained in the North East and Durham have had a simply superb season. Of their seventeen games to date they have won 15, with just one defeat and a thrilling draw outside of the win column.
Northumbria, in contrast, have had a tough year. With just one win to their name things have not gone as they would have wanted and they will be playing off against the top side from the North and South BUCS Premier League play off, which pits the winner of the BUCS Premier North A and against the top side from BUCS Premier South A against one another, to hold onto their BUCS Super Rugby place.
That should not lead to any forgone conclusions though, with that huge play off to come, pride to play for, and the not insignificant appeal of spoiling their north-eastern rivals’ party, expect a huge performance from Northumbria, who have been talking a good game thus far in the build-up.
The game represents a second foray into the University game for us at NextGenXV following last months live streaming from the BUCS Premier South as Bristol University took on Exeter University Freshers in a double header with the women’s game between the same two Universities.
Without doubt it is an area that we at NextGenXV are keen to continue to build in as we look to give thorough and dedicated exposure and promotion to those that we have followed in through the school game as they make their next steps in the rugby world.
For Durham University those steps might well be taking them to a second BUCS Super Rugby title, all will be revealed on Wednesday evening!
Team News:
Durham
15 Nick Jonas, 14 Paul Brown, 13 Olly Walker, 12 Mikey Ford, 11 Max Pepper, 10 Will Nicholson, 9 Harry Craven, 1 Monty Royston, 2 Fred Davies (c), 3 Matt Woodward, 4 Ewan Murphy, 5 Marihn Huis, 6 Brayden Barratt, 7 Jamie Adamson, 8 Jack Hill.
Replacements: 16 Jacob Head, 17 Oscar Stott, 18 Hamish Murray, 19 Rhys Belcher, 20 Henry Higginson, 21 Morgan James, 22 Will Morris, 23 Charlie Coe.
Northumbria
15 Ollie Williams, 14 Ned Newman (vc), 13 Jos McConkey, 12 Zac Thompson, 11 Luckas Blue, 10 Oscar Yandall, 9 Callum Davidson, 1 Matt Siddle, 2 Cam Wilkinson, 3 Billy Nicholls (c), 4 Ryan Gibson, 5 Will Hopes, 6 Callum Burke, 7 Murray Wigmore, 8 Harry Hill.
Replacements: 16 Jasper McGuire, 17 Jonty Mainey, 18 Eoin Harrison, 19 Tyler Tomlinson, 20 James Malcolmson, 21 Kareem Eissa, 22 Harry Yates, 23 Joe Liley.