FORMER Oxford University captain Joe Roff is set for a busy few days at Twickenham next month.

The ex-Australian international, who skippered the Dark Blues in 2007, will play for the Southern Hemisphere XV in the Heroes Rugby Challenge charity match on December 3.

Then he will be a touch judge for the Varsity Match on December 8 alongside former Cambridge captain Ross Blake as a famous tradition is revived.

Both Blake and Roff will get a half-day course on the intricacies of touch-judging from the RFU before they go into the game.

The 1997 Varsity Match was the first time the tradition of the captains returning to run the touchlines was halted.

Blake, who got the better of 86-cap Wallaby Roff in 2006 and 2007, stressed they would be absolutely fair.

“It will also be good to catch up with Joe again and I’ll try to re-live as many moments as I can with him from the 2006 and 2007 games!” he said.

Roff, 36, has not played competitive rugby since leading the Dark Blues at Twickenham on December 6, 2007.

“I left one boot behind at Twickenham just in case I ever got tempted to pull them out of the cupboard,” he said.

“But the Heroes Rugby Challenge is a different matter, a great cause and I’m really looking forward to it.

“Twickenham is one of the great grounds in world rugby and I have some enormously fond memories of playing there.”

Another Dark Blue connection in the Heroes Rugby Challenge is Southern Hemisphere coach Nick Mallett, who captained Oxford in 1980.

Mallett, who finished his job as Italy coach after the World Cup, has ruled himself out of the running to succeed Martin Johnson as England manager.

“I’ve not spoken to anyone about international coaching positions,” said Mallett.

“But I would consider each on their own merits if it happens.”