TODAYS OPPOSITION

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TODAYS OPPOSITION ROTHERHAM TITANS

Rotherham Titans are one of the top sides in England and have been gracing the game of rugby union since 1923. Rotherham play their home games at Clifton Lane sports ground (capacity 2,500) which they share with Rotherham Town Cricket Club. They moved to Clifton Lane in the late 1930s and have played every league season at Clifton Lane apart from the 2003–04 Premiership season during Rotherham's second stint as they instead shared Millmoor stadium with Rotherham United Football Club to satisfy promotion criteria. Rotherham returned to Clifton Lane the following year.

The 2000/01 season saw Rotherham winning promotion to become Yorkshire's first ever representative in the top tier of English rugby. The 2003–04 season saw a return to the Premiership for Rotherham and a change of name as a sponsorship deal with Titan Environmental lead to the adoption of the 'Titans' nickname. The Titans had been sharing Millmoor stadium with Rotherham United Football Club since the start of the 2002–03 season, but Millmoor proved even less of a happy top-flight hunting ground than Clifton Lane as Rotherham struggled to adapt on their return, the Titans being relegated from the top-flight of professional rugby union in 2003–04 after only one season, disappointingly without winning a single match.

After scrapping to stay in the third tier of English rugby, the South Yorkshire outfit had their fate confirmed as the Covid-19 pandemic ended their quest for safety. Rotherham have continued to inspire away from the pitch, and versatile back Jamie Cooke has led the way for the Titans Community Foundation. While Rotherham may not have played a fixture for 17 months, the efforts of Jamie Cooke and the Titans Community Foundation has been inspiring. Cooke and the Community Foundation team are delivering initiatives to improve health and fitness of children in the local area after he was left shocked by the lack of physical activity children were getting when he was visiting schools.

With 8 wins from 9 games, and already 5th in the table with 2 games in hand, Rotherham will be a tough test for the Students this weekend.