Championship Round 14 Preview
Get the lowdown on the latest team news ahead of Round 14.
The Championship returns after a two-week break this weekend, with Doncaster Knights leading the pack, albeit having played two more games than second-placed Ealing Trailfinders. The West Londoners head to Lady Bay on Friday night to kick off the weekend's action, followed by four matches on Saturday, including two hotly-anticipated local derbies. Here's a look at how the sides line up.
Friday
19:45 | Nottingham v Ealing Trailfinders
Nottingham make wholesale changes to the side that narrowly lost at Hartpury in the New Year. The sole survivor in the front five is lock Callum Allen, who packs down alongside Portugal international Jose Andrade, behind a revamped front three of Aniseko Sio, Archie Vanes, and Ben Betts. In the back row the only change sees Nathan Tweedy come in for Lewis Barrett at openside flanker. In the back line, Sam Hollingsworth and Morgan Bunting are promoted from the bench and start at 10 and 12 respectively, as Charlie Thacker switches to outside centre and assumes the captaincy duties in the absence of Jake Farnworth. Harry Graham rounds off the changes, coming in for Joe Browning on the left wing.
Ealing Trailfinders return to action after a 34-day break due to two postponed fixtures and a bye week and make several changes to the last matchday squad that would have faced Hartpury at the Alpas Arena in Round 12. In the front row, Will Davis comes in for Dylan Smith and packs down alongside hooker Alun Walker, who makes his first appearance in almost a year after a long absence through injury. In the back line, Ben Ward switches his 9-10 axis to Craig Hampson and Steven Shingler, as Jordan Burns and Craig Willis drop to the bench.
Saturday
15:00 | Bedford Blues v Ampthill
The Battle of Bedfordshire kicks off at 15:00 on Saturday, with the Blues looking to back up a 53-34 win at Dillingham Park in October and keep the pressure up at the top of the table. Mike Rayer makes seven changes to the Blues side that secured an impressive 28-19 win against Jersey Reds on Boxing Day. In the front row, Karl Garside makes his first start of the season at tighthead, with Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi back from injury and packing down at loosehead. A new-look back row sees JJ Tonks make his long-awaited return at blindside flanker, alongside Oli Stedman and Ollie Newman, with the latter making his first start of the season. Two changes in the back line see Connor Tupai start at scrum half, and Louis Grimoldby get the nod at inside centre, alongside the league's top points scorer, Will Maisey.
Ampthill make five changes to the team that secured a bonus-point win against London Scottish on New Year's Day. Two changes in the pack see Sam Crean make way for Jamie Jack at loosehead, and Cai Devine come in for Matt Wilkinson at lock alongside club captain Charlie Beckett. In the backs, Ospreys loanee Harri Morgan makes his Ampthill debut at scrum half, Ben Cambriani comes back into centres to rekindle his lethal partnership with Tom Hudson, as Josh Gillespie moves out to the wing. The final change sees Joe Luca Smith replace Josh Sharp at full back.
15:00 | Coventry v Hartpury
Coventry return to action for the first time since their Boxing Day victory over Ampthill and make several changes for the visit of Hartpury. An almost entirely reshuffled pack sees Rowland Winter ring a new-look front row of Toby Trinder, Jordon Poole, and Phil Boulton, while Jonathan Kpoku returns at lock alongside Coventry debutant James Tyas, who recently joined the Midlands outfit on a short-term contract from London Scottish until the end of the season. Ryan Burrows again skippers the side from No. 8, and packs down alongside Josh Bainbridge, who makes his first start since picking up an injury in October. An updated half-back combination sees scrum half Joe Snow partner fly half Tony Fenner. Elsewhere in the back line, Leicester Tigers loanee Sam Aspland-Robinson returns on the left wing and Tom Curtis comes in for Tom Stanton at full back.
Hartpury head into Round 14 looking to build on a bonus-point win against Nottingham on 2 January. Captain Will Crane retains the No. 2 jersey but is joined by a new prop pairing of Conor Maguire and Ciaran Knight, with the latter having featured in Gloucester's landmark victory against Saracens at The StoneX last weekend, while in the back row Joe Howard comes in for Harry Short at openside flanker. The only change in the Hartpury backs division sees Charlie Powell come in for Deago Bailey on the left wing.
15:00 | Jersey Reds v Doncaster Knights
Jersey Reds return to action for the first time since the Boxing Day defeat at Goldington Road, but will be without Harvey Biljon on the sidelines after the DoR received a one-match suspension following an independent disciplinary hearing. Head coach Rob Webber names an unchanged pack for Saturday's clash against Doncaster, but reshuffles the back line. James Mitchell and Brendan Owen come in and 9 and 10, and Ryan Olowofela moves into the centres alongside Jordan Holgate, with Ryan Hutler making his long-awaited debut 18 months after joining the club. Harry Simmons rounds off the changes at full back following Owen's switch to fly half.
Doncaster Knights make seven changes to the side that beat London Scottish 19-39 on Boxing Day. In the pack, Ben Murphy slots in at lock following an injury to John Kelly, and returning club captain Sam Graham replaces Guido Volpi at openside flanker. Five changes in the back line see Sam Olver return at fly half, Mark Best and Joe Margetts start in the centres, Kyle Evans comes in for the injured Jack Spittle, and Billy McBride replaces Harry Davey at full back.
15:00 | London Scottish v Richmond
London Scottish then take on Richmond looking to secure their second win of the season and secure RAG bragging rights in this much-anticipated south west London derby. The Exiles make a handful of changes to the side that lost to Ampthill on Boxing Day. In the pack, Tom Baldwin moves into the second row following James Tyas' move to Coventry, and a revamped back row sees Brian Tuilagi and Morgan Dawes start on the flanks, either side of Harry Wilson, who is promoted from the bench. In the back line, Sam Hanks comes in for Javiah Pohe in the centres, Sam Baker switches wings as Noah Ferdinand returns, and Rory Hughes gets the nod at full back.
Richmond make just one change in the pack to the side that put in a spirited performance against Ealing Trailfinders, as Jared Cardew returns to the starting line-up to replace flanker Jack Allcock. In the backs, thereβs a new half back pairing with James Lennon liking up with James Kane. Elsewhere, Ronnie Mclean and Lennox Anyanwu resume their 12 - 13 partnership, while Jake Caddy and Owain James start on the wings. Will Kaye earns his second appearance of the season at fullback.