Twins set to play a vital role in Varsity

THERE will be plenty of Welsh interest in the Varsity Matches at Twickenham today, with no fewer than five players in the women’s match coming from Welsh schools and another one in the men’s game.

Leading the way in the women’s game (11.30am) will be Olchfa Comprehensive School twins Fiona and Jennifer Shuttleworth, who have both made the Cambridge match-day squad.

Fiona will start in the back row and Jenni will be hoping to join her on the pitch off the bench as the Light Blues seek to avenge last year’s 3-0 defeat.

There is a third Swanseabased player in the Cambridge pack in former Bishop Gore tight-head prop Tamsin Banner, who will be winning her second Blue. She played in the 52-0 rout of Oxford in the historic 2015 match, which was the first played at Twickenham by the women.

Packing down behind her will be ex-Rydal Penrhoes pupil Laura Nunez-Mulder, who won a Blue last year, while Cardiff Sixth Form College product Samantha Chan is on the Cambridge bench for the first time.

The Dark Blues have two replacements from Welsh schools in Howell’s product Gwen Cartwright, who didn’t get on in last year’s victory, and north Walian Emily Bamber, who attended Ysgol Brynhyfred.

Haverfordwest-born openside flanker Stephen Leonard will be following in a long line of illustrious rugby Blues from Llandovery College when he starts for Cambridge in the men’s match (3pm). He was an unused replacement in 2015 and missed his chance last year through a shoulder injury.

But his impressive form this term has seen him get the nod over experienced Kiwi Tyler Hammond.

A Wales Under-16 cap, Leonard also played for the Scarlets Under-18s before heading to Cambridge to study medicine.

Other Welsh interest in the Cambridge ranks is Welsh Exiles product Mike Phillips at outside-half and Cardiff-born Sam Troughton on the bench.

The former Monmouth School pupil played in the second-string match between the Oxford Greyhounds and Cambridge LX Club last year.