Cass out to give pal Greg wedding blues

A bride will have something blue at her wedding - because her husband-to-be and his best man will both run out in the annual Varsity rugby match between Oxford and Cambridge today.

Greg Cushing, 27, will line up in light blue Cambridge against his closest friend Cassian Braham-Law - in the dark blue of Oxford. Bride Ele Steeds, 23, is due to wed Greg in just ten days time and has given Greg his orders before kick-off: "Don't get injured!"

Rugby-lovers Greg and Cassian, 26, grew up living next door to each other and are the closest of friends. But the pair have never played against each other - until now.

Greg is an outside half for Cambridge University where he is studying for degree in theology. Cassian is a 16-stone winger for arch-rivals Oxford where he is studying for a Phd in archaeological science.

Greg said: "We have known each other since we were a year old and lived next door to each other. We are so close that he was the only choice for my best man - we have grown up together.

"But what were the chances of us both playing in the same big match against each other just a week before my wedding day?"
The game will be the 130th Varsity Match when the Light Blues of Cambridge take on the Dark Blues of historic rivals Oxford.

Greg played in the match last year but today will be Cassian's debut in the fiery encounter. And both players have pledged it will be no-holds barred when they tackle each other at Twickenham.

Greg said: "I have been warned by Ele not to get hurt, bruised, scratched or marked in any way. She was not very happy when I got a black eye a few weeks ago but thankfully that has faded.

"But there is no question of Cassian and I dodging each other if we end up going for the same ball - neither of us will hold back."
Whoever emerges victorious in the match will have the bragging rights at the wedding at Holy Trinity Church in Esher, Surrey, on December 17. So Greg is hoping the best man doesn't win!

Greg said: "We will both be making speeches - but whoever wins the Varsity Match is going to have something to crow about."
And trainee teacher Ele will definitely have something blue on her big day - and she doesn't mind if it's the pale of Cambridge or the dark of Oxford.

She said: "I don't want him to have a black eye on our wedding day - if he does, I'll give him another one!"