FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS RETURNS TO KICK OFF CHRISTMAS

National One Friday Night Lights will return to Old Bath Road after a year’s absence on December 4.

London Scottish will be the visitors (7.45pm ko) for what will be the sixth iteration of the crowd-sweller.

The previous five floodlit fixtures have attracted a bumper number of supporters every time.

The maiden OBR FNL game came in March 2022.

And what an occasion it was.

Captain Robbie Stapley scored a hat-trick on the same day his son Arlo was born, helping Rams defeat Chinnor 38-22 in front of a crowd of 1,021.

Zach Clow bagged a brace on debut 11 months later in a 50-31 success against the same opponents, another four-figure attendance roaring Rams onto victory.

In Round Two of the 2023/24 campaign, a sensational turn-around helped the hosts overturn a 19-7 deficit to beat Chinnor 29-19.

Axel Kalling-Smith was this time the man at the double.

Despite the pouring rain, a record-breaking crowd of 1,829 turned out for the top-of-the-table clash with Richmond in December 2024, only for the visitors to edge a gritty clash 7-5.

But two weeks later Rams toppled Esher 31-3 with 1,211 in attendance.

And with the festive season building in two months time, a first-time clash with Exiles will hopefully become the latest chapter in a litany of Friday Night specials.

The return fixture in London has also been switched, with Rams heading to their opponents on April 2 (7.45pm).