Championship Weekend Preview
A round-up of all the latest team news ahead of this weekend's action in The Championship.
As we head into the final straight of a knife-edged Championship season, Saturday sees six teams in action, including title contenders Cornish Pirates, who will be looking to take maximum points against Hartpury and tee up a potentially decisive showdown with Ealing Trailfinders on 26 March. Earlier this week, Coventry captain Ryan Burrows announced that tomorrow's clash at Butts Park Arena would be his last home game after announcing his retirement at the end of the season. There will also be a notable milestone at The RAG on Saturday afternoon when Mike Rayer oversees his 500th game in charge of Bedford Blues.
Here's your guide to how the teams line up this weekend. [photo credit: Rich Chapman]
14:30 Cornish Pirates vs Hartpury
Cornish Pirates welcome Hartpury to The Mennaye this weekend as they look to put pressure on Ealing and Doncaster with The Championship nearing an exciting conclusion. Amongst the four changes for Pirates is a first Championship start for Ed Scragg, who replaces Josh Caulfield in the second row. Will Gibson slots in at seven, and his backrow partner Tom Duncan continues to captain the side in lieu of Nicolas De Battista. Other than that, the pack remains the same, and features hooker Tom Channon making his 150th appearance for the club. There are two changes in the backs also as Robin Wedlake starts on the wing, and Alex Shwarz starts at nine.
Please check Hartpury's Twitter channel for tomorrow's team to face Cornish Pirates.
14:30 London Scottish vs Bedford Blues
London Scottish will hope to round off their season on a high in their final game of the campaign against Bedford Blues. There are nine changes for the home side, beginning with Jimmy Roots starting at tighthead in place of Kieran Verden. Brian Tuilagi returns to the starting XV and captains the side, pairing with Ehize Ehizode in a new-look second row. Jack Ingall retains the seven jersey, but Morgan Dawes and Cameron King return at six and eight, respectively. In the back line, Stephen Kerins comes in at scrum-half, Tom Georgiou starts at inside centre, and Leo Fielding trades fullback for outside centre whilst Cam Anderson takes the 15 jersey. Sam Baker completes the changes in the backline, starting on the wing in place of Levi Davis.
Bedford Blues’ final league fixture coincides with head coach Mike Rayer’s 500th match in charge of the side. Rayer has made six changes as his team look to secure a fifth-place finish. Osman Dimen is handed the tighthead jersey. And In the back row, Oli Stedman and Bailey Ransom return at six and eight, respectively, as their backrow accomplice Joe Atkinson captains the side on his 50th appearance. In the backline, James Little makes his first start at inside centre after an impressive debut cameo last weekend. Fly-half Will Maisey, who returned off the bench last round, has been deemed fit to start against London Scottish. Maisey partners Alex Day in the halfbacks, as Bedford continue their rotation a scrumhalf.
16:00 Coventry vs Jersey Reds
Coventry welcome Jersey Reds to the Midlands for their penultimate game of the season, and a final outing at home for Coventry captain Ryan Burrows, who recently announced his retirement at the end of the season. Due to a mix of injury troubles and a number of dual-registered players being called up for the Premiership Rugby Cup, Coventry make six changes to the starting XV. Hooker Jordon Poole and tighthead Matt Johnson are both Devon-bound as they’ve been recalled to Exeter Chiefs, meaning Suva Ma’asi starts in the number two shirt and Jake Bridges replaces Johnson. The final switch in the forwards sees Senetiki Nayolo don the number six shirt after returning from his Army Rugby duties. Evan Mitchell takes the fly-half role in place of the unwell Tony Fenner. Andy Forsyth starts at outside centre as Tom Curtis will ply his trade for parent club Sale Sharks this week, which shifts Will Owen to inside centre. The injured Rob Stevenson makes way for Rob Knox on the wing, rounding off the changes.
Jersey Reds will be looking to end their season on a high at Butts Park Arena, and Director of Rugby Harvey Biljon has kept faith in the starting XV that beat Nottingham 48-12 at home last weekend. The only change sees Tim Grey start at number eight, with on-loan backrower Alun Lawrence missing out through injury. Jersey’s final ranking of fourth looks almost certain, equalling the club’s best-ever league finish.