It will be a first trip to Iffley Road since November 2021, when a partisan and passionate home crowd were eventually silenced 45-26 in a cracking affair.
Having fallen behind to an early converted try from American international Andrew Duratalo, Rams rallied to leads 31-7 at the break off the back of five-pointers from Vince Everitt, Will Janes, Joe Bridger, Charlie Robson and Omar Ellaboudy, Sam Nicholls adding the extras on three occasions.
The visitors extended their lead as Nicholls bisected the extras after Ollie Moffitt touched down, but the Dark Blues now hit back as Gus Cunningham, Alex Post and Nick Civetta all went over, four more points from Ben Seher’s boot making it 38-26.
Rams, though, had the final word as Moffitt doubled up before Nicholls slotted his fifth kick with the final play of the night.
Oxford gained their revenge two months later, taking a 10-7 win back at Old Bath Road after their home ground was frozen.
Titans were dominant from the off and took a 7-0 lead as Nicholls converted a Janes try, but an extraordinary Dark Blues defence ensured those would be their last points of the night.
And with Ed Friend’s converted try just before the break levelling things, it fell to David Wilkinson to slot a late penalty for a hard-fought triumph.
Club connections
Aside from these recent clashes, further connections between the clubs come in the form of the Humberstone brothers, with Tom a four-time Blue and the record-holder for most points in a Vasrity game.
Drew – currently on loan at Taunton Titans having moved to the West Country – also featured alongside his brother in the 2021 fixture, when they made history by becoming the first pair in more than 50 years to do so.
Back in 2016, Rams’ props Kieran Ball and, off the bench, Hugo Lu – who came through the Minis and had also featured the year before – also took on Cambridge University at Twickenham.
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