Richmond lock horns with old foe London Scottish this weekend and for Rory Damant it’ll have significant meaning.

The 31-year-old will be receiving his 100th cap for the black, red and gold outfit against the side where it all began.

Former Exile

Growing up playing in the junior ranks at Scottish, Damant has fond memories of his time with the Exiles but is proud of the milestone he’ll achieve for Richmond in the Championship Cup fixture on Saturday.

“When you set out to play at any club, you try and get to the 50 or 100 cap milestone, but with the nature of the sport it’s very difficult to attain that at one club,” said Damant.

“So, it’s a obviously a great feeling to be at a club long enough to get that. I’m looking forward to it.”

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Born in Kingston and living near the Richmond Athletic Ground, home of both sides, Damant played for the Exiles up until 23, serving one year as a professional when the club went full time.

Now playing for Richmond, a part-time semi-professional club, Damant pinpointed the difference between the two. Community.

“They’re completely different. Scottish have a far greater turnover of players whereas Richmond have a family feel. That’s evident in the number of players who have got to the 100plus cap milestone for Richmond. There’s more of a community feel.

“Being semi-professional means we are an underdog every game, every week, because no-one thinks that a part-time semi pro side should be beating any full-time, professional team in the league. That’s how we like it.”

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Richmond defeated Scottish in the opening fixture of the league season, whilst the Exiles avenged the defeat by beating Richmond in the cup a fortnight ago. With both sides realistically out of the cup competition it is purely West-London bragging rights on the line.

Saturday’s fixture is the second to last in the group stage of the Championship Cup campaign which has been ‘very disappointing’ according to Damant. Despite not picking up a win in the opening four fixtures, the fly-half says the form book goes out the window when the enemies collide.

“When the two play it doesn’t matter if it’s a friendly, league or cup. It just doesn’t matter. Both sides want the win irrespective of circumstances.”

League Form

After an ‘up and down’ season Richmond sit 10th in the league, and with the league resuming on the December 22 the remaining fixtures in the cup against Scottish and Ealing will serve as an opportunity to stake a claim for starting berth for the Bedford Blues tie.

“The league is really tight. One loss and you’re at the bottom, one win and you jump up the table. So it’s important to find some form in the cup and transfer that in to the league.”