Blues look to 'take off' against RAF on Friday

This Friday 7th November, the Men*s Blues look to get their season in full flight against the Royal Air Force. Tickets are available online (www.ourfc.org/tickets). A real hit so far this season has been the pre-match dinners held in the Pavilion on Friday nights immediately before the matches, which are open to all. A ticket to the dinner includes a two-course meal, a drink from the Bar, a match programme, and your ticket to the match.

The Men's Blues have had a tough opening four fixtures, winning one and losing three:

Blues v Easts won 26 - 12 - trylights

Blues v Saracens lost 17-42 - trylights

Blues v Harlequins lost 17-38 - trylights

Blues v Penguins lost 14-31 - trylights

The last time the RAF came up to Iffley Road, in 2024, the Blues came up winners in a thriller, winning by one point 22-21, and you can read the full match report here: https://www.ourfc.org/post/a-dogfight-at-iffley-road

Ahead of Friday's match, we took a look through the OURFC archives and here flash back to the 2011 match up which saw the Blues triumph 32 - 3. The fixture was the first game of Hilary Term after the Blues won the Varsity Match 21-10 at Twickenham in December in front of 30,000 spectators. The game was notable for featuring the Oxford siblings Harry and Dan Guinness, the first Oxford brothers to play in a Varsity Match since 1976. The game was also haltered due to a C*mbridge streaker protesting a rise in student fees. Read the full Oxford Mail match report here.

The Blues put out a strong team to face the RAF that day, with the following players taking to the field, having played in the winning Varsity Match team a month before: T Yusef #1164, J Crozier #1148, L Fenwick #1150, H Guinness #1160, J Mather #1161, C Marr #1155, H Macdonald #1154, T Evans #1149, K Outen #1142, A Rowe #1162, L Mather #1156, I Swan #1163, S Mckeen #1129 and J Wisson #1193

Other notable items within the Blues v RAF match day programme that day include OURFC General Manager, Tim 'The Ferrett' Stevens' view of the Varsity Match, where he hailed the performances of Captain Nick Haydon, and Canadian international, Stan McKeen, at 8:

As well as Karl Outen's Secretary's Word:

And finally Blue number 1125, Peter Wright's view as Commercial Manager:

We hope you enjoy these deep delve into the archives and good luck to the 2025 Blues on Friday night against the RAF, we hope to see you at Iffley in support.

Tickets are available at www.ourfc.org/tickets.