CHINNOR director of rugby Richard Thorpe is excited by the draw for next year’s NCA Cup.

With the 2020/21 league season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rugby Football Union has organised competitions to provide players with meaningful games.

Chinnor have been placed in Group 2 where they face a number of mouth-watering clashes, including an Oxfordshire derby against Henley Hawks for the first time since December 2017.

With the Thame-based side also joined by their National League 1 title challengers from last season, Rams and Rosslyn Park, as well as fourth-tier sides Barnes and Esher, it will be a hotly-contested pool.

Thorpe said: “I think out of all of the groups this is going to be the one to really look out for with three of the top four (in National League 1) from last season together.

“It’s going to be exciting for us here at Chinnor as well.

“We’ve not played our local rivals Henley for three years now and we’re going to be able to lock horns with them hopefully soon into next year.”

The fixtures will be played under adapted rules, with no scrums or mauls allowed.

The NCA Cup sees National League 1 and 2 clubs placed in local pools before separating into knock-out competitions – a Cup, Plate and Bowl – with the potential of a Twickenham final at the end.