DAN Swain returns to action after 18 months away as Rams Development visit Cambridge University this evening (7.30pm).

The second/back row is ready to go following a sabbatical in Australia.

He starts at No. 8 looking to build on a sensational three years previously spent at Old Bath Road after arriving in July 2022.

From there Dan picked up accolades galore while scoring 11 tries in 67 outings.

He was twice named in the National League Rugby website Team of the Season, and was also picked by The Rugby Paper in their Select XV for 2023/24.

Internally Swaino was chosen by retiring leader Robbie Stapley as Captain’s Player of the Year in the latter.

And before heading down under, he was the Players’ Player choice in 2024/25.

Ollie Agar and Darren Bold join the returning ace in the back row at Grange Road, in a side skippered by Harry Bicknell.

Props Max Marshall and JJ Wozniak sandwich the hooker up front.

Will Saunders and Paddy Jackson are the two locks.

Davies debuts at full back

Arthur Garfield is scrum-half with George Tomlinson – fresh from leading Reading University to a 130-0 victory last Wednesday – outside him.

In midfield, Isaac Tokura and Theo Pett-Ridge – who came agonisingly close to scoring at Tonbridge Juddians on Saturday – have both played National One rugby this term.

Wings Alec Formela and David Ajisafe were also part of the Reading Uni rout, while Gethin Davies completes the starting XV.

The teenager started for Aberavon against London Welsh and Clifton in pre-season and is an exciting young talent.

Andrich Skein and Newbury’s Leon Taylor are the front row replacements.

Former two-time OBB Division One title-winning Colts captain Aaron Preston and Berkshire Under 20s skipper Olly Marsh, complete the forwards options.

Scrum-half Jack Mapletoft leads the three-quarters replacements, with flying wing Finlay Wells a former junior.

Welsh Wizard and Reading Uni ace Ethan Bassett has impressed in the past 12 months, with Gus Stapleton rounding out the squad.

The 24-year-old former Millfield School sports scholar also played BUCS Prem Rugby for Bath University and is ready to make an impact.

Development XV @ Cambridge University

(15-9, 1-8) Davies, Formela, Pett-Ridge, Tokura, Ajisafe, Tomlinson, Garfield; Marshall*, Bicknell* ©, Wozniak*, Saunders, Jackson, Agar, Bold, Swain

Replacements: Skein*, Taylor*, Preston, Marsh, Wells, Bassett, Mapletoft, Stapleton