Nottingham rugby preview

Anyone willing to stick their neck out and predict the result?

Nottingham's preview:

Nottingham vs Doncaster Knights - Match Preview

Nottingham welcome local rivals Doncaster Knights to Meadow Lane for this festive fixture.

The Green and Whites have enjoyed the upper hand against the Knights in recent meetings, but the matches are always competitive.

Doncaster have looked strong since winning promotion back to the Championship last season and will be determined to get one over on their neighbours.

on 18th January 2015 Nottingham rugby move from Meador Lane to Lady Bay:

"Nottingham Rugby and Notts County have today jointly announced that from Sunday 18th January 2015 the rugby club will be playing its rugby matches at Lady Bay Sports Ground, in West Bridgford. The clubs have agreed heads of terms for a new eight year agreement that will also ensure that, should Nottingham Rugby gain promotion to the Premiership, then the club will return to Meadow Lane to fulfil its fixtures. The new agreement is effective until the end of the 2022/2023 season.

Nottingham Rugby Chairman Alistair Bow said:

"Meadow Lane is a great facility, one of the best in the country for rugby and was a good fit for our previous owners, but with new shareholders the situation is now different and we want to be more in control of our own destiny. Like any good business, you need firm foundations and that must be a facility that we have some control over and from which we are able to generate income. The new agreement also enables us to extend our ground share contract for a further eight years, putting in place one of the key cornerstones of our longer term strategy of being able to challenge for promotion to the Premiership.

"We have enjoyed some fantastic times at Meadow Lane. I'd like to personally thank Notts County's owners - Ray and Aileen Trew, Chief Executive Jim Rodwell and the rest of the staff, coaches and players at Meadow Lane. I hope we'll be back in the not too distant future, but in the meantime, having witnessed first class rugby at Lady Bay when we beat Leicester Tigers pre-season, we are very excited about making the venue our home for Championship Rugby."

Nottingham Rugby Football Club Limited jointly owns the Lady Bay Sports Ground with Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club and Boots PLC. Unlike Meadow Lane, it is a freehold site and is currently used as the clubs training ground. It is also the home of Boots Hockey and Nottingham Corsairs amateur rugby club.

Chris Simon, Operations Director at Nottingham Rugby added:

"This is an exciting period for Nottingham Rugby. We've already started work on ensuring we have a first class facility at Lady Bay. We are in the process of adding a hospitality area, a temporary stand and other improvements, as we continue to look at the longer term development opportunities of the site.

"Meadow Lane is a great facility for professional rugby, but hosting Leicester Tigers at Lady Bay back in August made us realise what we could create by moving our fixtures there. It's a great community facility and enables us to create a really traditional rugby experience. We've got a lot of work to do before the move and we'll need the support of our sponsors, fans and other stakeholders to help us achieve our vision."

Nottingham Rugby's last fixture at Meadow Lane is expected to be against London Scottish on Sunday 4th January, before the club hosts Plymouth at Lady Bay on Sunday 18th January. Before then, the club has two big British & Irish Cup home fixtures to play, with high flying Worcester arriving at Meadow Lane this coming Sunday 12th October (kick off 3pm) and Irish giants Munster visiting Nottingham on Friday 24th October (kick off 8pm). Tickets can be purchased from the club's office by calling 0115 907 0070, or via the website at www.nottinghamrugby.co.uk."

Absolutely Gryz.  Just about the strongest team we can put on the pitch.

A strong front row with one just as strong on the bench.

Another new face in Ollie Bryant. Anyone know owt about him? Can't find a great deal on him online.  

Let's hope the boys don't get dragged into a scrap as these fixtures tend to go.  If we can keep 15 players on the pitch I reckon we've got a very decent chance of bringing home the points.

C'mon Donny!!!

to add some detail; Jersey 13 - 17 Yorkshire (Leeds)Carnegie. That places Carnegie sixth and Jersey seventh both on 18 league points, four above the Knights but if the Knights win without the bonus we'll have won more games than either of them therefore will be above in the league table.


DONNY, DONNY, DONNY...

Final count for the coach is 47. A brilliant level of support for the Knights. Well done to everyone include the many who will be making their own way to Meadow Lane. Roll on 3pm this afternoon.

Yup not the way we would have liked to see the year out. Oh well bring on Rotherham on the 4th.....a merry Christmas to all and a happy New Year