Championship Weekend Preview
Team news ahead of the The Championship season finale.
The Championship enters the final chapter of an enthralling season this weekend, with six teams in action across Friday and Saturday, and the league winners set to be crowned within the next 24 hours. On Friday evening, Nottingham host 2nd placed Doncaster Knights, who will look to take maximum points, secure a top two finish, and keep the pressure up on Ealing. On Saturday, Cornish Pirates take on Ampthill at The Mennaye, looking to end the campaign unbeaten at home, before the season finale sees Ealing Trailfinders welcome Richmond with the hosts needing a win to secure the 2021/22 Championship title.
Here's your guide to how the teams line up this weekend. [photo credit: Brian Tempest]
Friday
19:45 Nottingham vs Doncaster Knights
Craig Hammond makes five changes to the Archers side that faced Jersey Reds almost three weeks ago. Two changes in the forward pack sees Josh McNulty start at tighthead and Jose Andrade start in the second row. Hammond makes a further three personnel changes to the backline. Harry Graham slots in at wing, and a fresh centre pairing of Morgan Bunting and Charlie Thacker take to the field. Hooker Archie Vanes returns to the Nottingham set up after scoring two tries in an appearance for Leicester Tigers in the Premiership Cup.
Doncaster Knights will travel to Lady Bay to face Nottingham this Friday evening in their final game of the season. A bonus point win will put Doncaster in the best possible position for the title with Ealing facing Richmond the next day, but the Knights look on track to secure a 2nd place finish, their best since the 2015/16 season. Head Coach Steve Boden has made no changes to the starting XV who secured a pivotal bonus-point win against Cornish Pirates at Castle Park two weeks ago.
Saturday
14:00 Cornish Pirates vs Ampthill
Cornish Pirates are unbeaten at The Mennaye this season, and will aim to keep that intact when they host Ampthill. The Pirates make four changes in total, three in the forward pack and one in the backline. Garyn Phillips makes his first start at loosehead, and a new second row partnership sees Cory Teague and Lewis Pearson pair up. The sole change in the backs sees Tom Kessell take the nine jersey.
Ampthill can potentially jump from 8th to 6th in The Championship table if they win against Cornish Pirates this weekend. Head Coach Paul Turner makes six changes to the starting fifteen that played Ealing three weeks ago – three in both the forwards and backs. Austin Wallis starts his first Championship game at hooker, having converted from openside flanker Mat Wilkinson partners club captain Charlie Beckett at lock as Cai Devine moves to blindside, and ex-Pirate Paddy Ryan comes in at number eight. Josh Bragman starts at fly-half alongside him in the half-backs, Tom Hudson returns from injury to partner with Charlie Hudson in the centres, whilst Ben Cambriani starts on the wing.
15:00 Ealing Trailfinders vs Richmond
The season culminates with a much-anticipated showdown between Ealing Trailfinders and Richmond at the Trailfinders Sports Ground, which will be streamed live on the England Rugby YouTube channel, Championship Twitter, and right here on championshiprugby.co.uk. Ben Ward names just one change to the starting XV that beat Cornish Pirates last weekend as George Davis comes in at prop.
Richmond prop Jimmy Litchfield will earn his 50th first-team cap as his side make the short trip to Ealing Trailfinders on Saturday. Facing a number of selection challenges this week due to injury and unavailability, Richmond have been forced to make six changes. The aforementioned Litchfield starts, whilst Freddie Hosking has been ruled out through injury and has been replaced by Henri Williams. Elsewhere, flanker Huw Worthington earns a recall to the side. In the backs, James Lennon and James Kane are unavailable for selection, meaning scrum-half Callum Watson and centre Craig Duncan earn their starts. Winger Alex Goble also returns to the starting squad, replacing Owain James.