Richmond rugby player William Browne reckons featuring in next week’s Varsity Match will be like returning to a home away from home.

The 20-year-old winger is set to feature in the Oxford University squad to face Cambridge at Twickenham Stadium on Thursday having played all but a handful of minutes for the Dark Blues this season.

Browne, a former Hampton School student and England U18 international, will be on familiar territory should he take to the field having been a spectator at the home of rugby many times as a child.

And he admits there well be more than just a sense of familiarity regarding his surroundings.

“It is quite nice to be coming home to play rugby. I’ve been to the stadium many times before so there is probably more of a homely feel to it for me than any other players,” he said.

“There are three other players inthe Oxford squad who I played with at England U18 level. It is pretty unusual, but nice to think we have come up through the ranks together and know each other well.

“It would be great to be involved and I’d love to add another victory to our total. It is what it is all about and would mean a lot.”

A hat-trick from Tim Catling saw an Oxford side - featuring Richmond’s Tom Gregory - edge the Light Blues 33-29 in a thriller last season.

Gregory has been in fine form at the Athletic Ground this season since joining director of rugby Geoff Richards’ National League Division Two outfit.

It is a well-trodden path that sees many former Blues end up playing rugby in west London, but Browne - who started his rugby career at London Welsh - is not convinced he will make the same step.

“It is my final year as an undergraduate, but I’m not sure what I’ll be doing after. I might stay on to do a Masters,” he added.

“I want to perform at the highest level I possibly can but may decide there is something more to life than playing rugby.”

Either way he is hoping for a try-scoring send-off.

“We are a pretty attacking side. We’ve got a lot of threats around the park and if Cambridge can deal with that then hats off to them,” he added.

“They’ve got a big set of forwards, so we’ll be hoping to tire them out by spreading the play and running around them.”

The Varsity match takes place next Thursday (ko 2pm) at Twickenham Stadium. Tickets start from £20 and are available online at varsitymatch.org.