COVENTRY TRAVEL TO NOTTINGHAM FOR FIRST MATT GALLAGHER CUP CLASH OF THE SEASON
COVENTRY TRAVEL TO NOTTINGHAM FOR FIRST MATT GALLAGHER CUP CLASH OF THE SEASON
Coventry Rugby return to Elior Champ Rugby action this Friday evening as they travel to Lady Bay to face Nottingham Rugby in Round Three of the 2026/27 campaign. The Blue-and-Whites will kick off at 19:45 on Friday 2 October, with the fixture also marking the first Matt Gallagher Cup game of the season.
Coventry Rugby return to Elior Champ Rugby action this Friday evening as they travel to Lady Bay to face Nottingham Rugby in Round Three of the 2026/27 campaign. The Blue-and-Whites will kick off at 19:45 on Friday 2 October, with the fixture also marking the first Matt Gallagher Cup game of the season.
The two clubs will once again meet in honour of Matt Gallagher, a much-loved member of both the Coventry and Nottingham Rugby families.
The Matt Gallagher Cup
The Matt Gallagher Cup was established during the 2025/26 season between Coventry Rugby and Nottingham Rugby to celebrate the life and legacy of Matt Gallagher and his connections with both clubs.
The Cup came from the shared connection between the two clubs and brings together Coventry and Nottingham to support Matt and the Foundation. The Cup is contested between the two clubs, with the winning side taking home the trophy.
The inaugural Matt Gallagher Cup took place at the Nick Newbold Stadium in December 2025, with Coventry coming out on top in an 11-try contest, winning 41-36.
The second meeting followed at Lady Bay in April 2026, with Nottingham claiming a 33-26 victory to take the trophy.
Friday's clash will therefore be the third Matt Gallagher Cup fixture and the first of the new 2026/27 season.
Matt Gallagher Foundation Website
Coventry Name Side for Lady Bay
Coventry head to Nottingham with Morgan Strong captaining the side from number eight, while there are several changes to the team that featured against Cornish Pirates last weekend.
Murray Davidson comes into the front row at hooker, with Aristot Benz-Salomon and Jonny Benz-Salomon completing the front row.
Senitiki Nayalo and Rhys Fulford continue in the second row, while Dan Green joins Strong and Rhys Tait in the back row.
Josh Barton starts at scrum-half alongside Bruce Houston at fly-half, with Tommy Mathews and Api Bavadra named in the centres.
Alex Garrett and Matt McNab take their places on the wings, with Tom Bacon at full-back.
Starting XV
Aristot Benz-Salomon
Murray Davidson
Jonny Benz-Salomon
Senitiki Nayalo
Rhys Fulford
Dan Green
Rhys Tait
Morgan Strong (C)
Josh Barton
Bruce Houston
Alex Garrett
Tommy Mathews
Api Bavadra
Matt McNab
Tom Bacon
Finishers
Jordon Poole
Keston Lines
Coby Stanton-Ford
Mackenzie Graham
Marcus Rhodes
Sam Maunder
Dafydd-Rhys Tiueti
Peter Sullivan
Watch Live on Clubber TV
Not making the trip to Nottingham on Friday night? You can still watch Coventry Rugby in action live.
The clash with Nottingham Rugby will be streamed live on Clubber TV, giving supporters the chance to follow the action from wherever they are.
Live stream access is available to purchase through Clubber TV, so make sure you secure your access ahead of kick-off at 19:45.
The two clubs will once again meet in honour of Matt Gallagher, a much-loved member of both the Coventry and Nottingham Rugby families.
The Matt Gallagher Cup
The Matt Gallagher Cup was established during the 2025/26 season between Coventry Rugby and Nottingham Rugby to celebrate the life and legacy of Matt Gallagher and his connections with both clubs.
The Cup came from the shared connection between the two clubs and brings together Coventry and Nottingham to support Matt and the Foundation. The Cup is contested between the two clubs, with the winning side taking home the trophy.
The inaugural Matt Gallagher Cup took place at the Nick Newbold Stadium in December 2025, with Coventry coming out on top in an 11-try contest, winning 41-36.
The second meeting followed at Lady Bay in April 2026, with Nottingham claiming a 33-26 victory to take the trophy.
Friday's clash will therefore be the third Matt Gallagher Cup fixture and the first of the new 2026/27 season.
Matt Gallagher Foundation Website
Coventry Name Side for Lady Bay
Coventry head to Nottingham with Morgan Strong captaining the side from number eight, while there are several changes to the team that featured against Cornish Pirates last weekend.
Murray Davidson comes into the front row at hooker, with Aristot Benz-Salomon and Jonny Benz-Salomon completing the front row.
Senitiki Nayalo and Rhys Fulford continue in the second row, while Dan Green joins Strong and Rhys Tait in the back row.
Josh Barton starts at scrum-half alongside Bruce Houston at fly-half, with Tommy Mathews and Api Bavadra named in the centres.
Alex Garrett and Matt McNab take their places on the wings, with Tom Bacon at full-back.
Starting XV
Aristot Benz-Salomon
Murray Davidson
Jonny Benz-Salomon
Senitiki Nayalo
Rhys Fulford
Dan Green
Rhys Tait
Morgan Strong (C)
Josh Barton
Bruce Houston
Alex Garrett
Tommy Mathews
Api Bavadra
Matt McNab
Tom Bacon
Finishers
Jordon Poole
Keston Lines
Coby Stanton-Ford
Mackenzie Graham
Marcus Rhodes
Sam Maunder
Dafydd-Rhys Tiueti
Peter Sullivan
Watch Live on Clubber TV
Not making the trip to Nottingham on Friday night? You can still watch Coventry Rugby in action live.
The clash with Nottingham Rugby will be streamed live on Clubber TV, giving supporters the chance to follow the action from wherever they are.
Live stream access is available to purchase through Clubber TV, so make sure you secure your access ahead of kick-off at 19:45.
