The students [and staff] of the University of Northumbria will make interesting and challenging opposition.

Their arrival in the North club leagues has certainly added a new, if controversial, dimension. They can pull from a massive pool of players, although still limited to 100 registrations, and have the benefit of superb facilities for their daily training sessions.

Their hired in help includes Steve Bates - the former Falcons coach. Steve was good enough to come down and do a pre-season session with our lads when he was still with Falcons, and the university is lucky to have his services until he finds a more permanent position.

He was brought in by widely experienced head coach Nick Gandy to join a set up which also includes Stuart Grimes, Joel Brannigan and Magnus Leask.

Sport is serious business for modern universities as they compete with each other to put "bums on seats." They invest heavily in facilities and Northumbria has even baled out Falcons by buying Kingston Park.

Professional clubs value those links - with every Premiership club having its own University "academy" feeder side.

We have already seen that in action with the rather soulless trip to Hartpury College in the national cup. Since then Hartpury, linked to Gloucester, has continued to destroy all opposition as they sprint up the league structure.

It must be somewhat demoralising for the West Country clubs who start the season knowing that Hartpury will win the league, and the rest will just have to fight for second place.

Team Northumbria's rugby union set-up has similar ambitions, but has not yet enjoyed the same runaway success winning six, drawing one and losing three games so far. Last week they won 40-37 at Driffield.

By all accounts they have a very pacy and lively set of backs with Chris McTurk the dangerman. Kick the ball away at your peril is the advice from clubs which have played them.

They will be missing the old head of Gandy who suffered a badly broken ankle at Pontefract a couple of weeks ago.

We will be missing some of our own young speed merchants. Scott Jordan is injured and Adam Larkin is away. Fortunately, Gareth Foreman is now fit to resume at fly half which means that Stu Waites can drop back to cover for Jordan while Scott Butcher is the obvious replacement on the wing.

Carlo Robinson has work committments so Stephen Stockdale continues in the front row and Adam Howard at No.8

West: Waites, Thomas, C Cheslin, Hodgson, Butcher, G Foreman, A Foreman, Carr, Bailey, Stockdale, Davies, T Dixon, D Boatman, J Boatman, Howard. Reps: Watson, Wood, C Miller