Plymouth Combination representative rugby sides prepare to battle it out with Torbay Sharks

THE Plymouth Combination representative rugby team returns to action on Sunday when the men’s and the women’s team take on Torbay Sharks at Plymstock Oaks’ Horsham Fields ground.

The women’s game will be first up at 12.30pm and they will be playing for the Dougal Cup, while the men’s match will kick-off at 2.30pm and they will be battling it out for the Graham Emond Cup.

Most of the Combination clubs will be represented, although a couple of clubs do have end-of-season events this weekend.

“The good thing is players really want to play for the Combination team,” said team official Shaun Bedford-Smith.

“People have a bit of pride in getting selected and it has proved a stepping stone for players to go on and play for Devon or Cornwall.”

The Combination’s women’s team has only been going two years, but the men’s side have been playing Torbay Sharks regularly over the past 10 or so years.

“It’s been pretty even over the years, although they (the Sharks) probably might just edge the number of wins,” said Bedford Smith.

“They have got a good side and can pick from the likes of Brixham, Torquay, Paignton, Teignmouth and Newton Abbot.

“But I think we have got a good side and have got a good mix of clubs. Hopefully, it will be a good match.

“It does take a bit of time to get everything together, but it is enjoyable at the end of the season.”

In recent years players like Tom Davies, James Hocking, Harvey Courtis, Charlie Groves, Adam Powell and Rohan Ewels have played for the Combination men’s side and gone on to represent Devon or Cornwall.

Some of the Combination team on Sunday, like Tavistock’s Richard Cann and Plymouth Argaum’s Dan Smith, represented the new Devon Clubs’ XV last weekend against a Cornwall Clubs’ XV.

Devon’s senior men were handed a walkover by Buckinghamshire last weekend in the County Championship, but they will be in action on Saturday when they host Somerset at Brixham (2pm).

Devonport Services’ Bertie Fordham, Nathan Todd, Tom Davies, Shaun Crawford and Charlie Groves will start for Devon, with club colleague Tyler Busfield on the bench, along with Plymstock Oaks’ Harry Toghill.

Cornwall are not in County Championship action this weekend, but they will play an Exeter Chiefs’ XV at Sandy Park in a warm-up game on Saturday (1.30pm).