PLAYING at Twickenham is not an opportunity many would shy away from and Oxford’s players have grabbed it by the horns.

Flying high and pushing for promotion in the BB&O Championship, there is a growing excitement at North Hinksey Sports Park.

Couple that with the club being two wins from reaching the Junior Vase final at the home of English rugby and it is fair to say Oxford is a happy place to be playing rugby.

The next step is to beat South Molton at home in the South West Division final on Saturday.

The thought of playing at Twickenham could be seen as a distraction, but it has had quite the opposite affect.

“From day one there was no hiding it – that’s what they’ve bought into,” said director of rugby John Brodley.

“If they don’t make it there will be disappointment obviously, but along the way we have got the league as well.

“We haven’t been shying away from it.”

Oxfordshire RFU entered the club for the competition due to being the county’s highest ranked level nine side.

Last month’s victory over Puddletown saw Oxford win the Southern Counties final of the Junior Vase.

And with a national semi-final in their sights against either Chipstead or Old Wimbledonians, they do not want their run to stop.

Brodley said: “Every week the players now have a league or cup game, injury kicks in and there is a certain amount of unavailability.

“But they’ve been terrific and I hope it works out for them.”