NEW Returning Students manager Adrian Ivory has named a 25-man squad for tomorrow night’s floodlit derby trip to old rivals Chinnor – including one flying in from Saudi Arabia!
One of the Centaurs’ outstanding players of the opening months of the season, Alex Morgans, starts at loose-head prop, joined in the front row by Josh Benton and Harrison Stanners, with David Coleman and Steven Webber behind them in the engine room.
Jack Rushton and Josh Grahame, who have also both shone brightly for the Mighty Cents, are on the flanks, the pack completed by No. 8 Kariq Richardson.
GB tag ace Josh Ede starts at scrum-half with Tom David outside him at stand-off, while one of last year’s National Colts Cup semi-final reaching team, Theo Pett-Ridge, takes the No. 12 jersey.
The inside centre has also enjoyed game time for the Development XV this term and is partnered in midfield by Dan Bennett, while the back three is made up of wings Tom Passmore and Alfie Jeanes, along with another to represent the Dev side earlier in the year, full-back Ollie Whattam.
Ready to cover the front row are one of last year’s outstanding Colts, Ollie Ireland, along with Ed Marsden, as Aaron Coleman and Nick Jessett provide options behind.
Also ready to reinforce the pack is Rhys Warwick, the versatile player who will be making the furthest journey for the contest as he flies in from Jeddah.
Another to feature in the Development and Cents teams recently is scrum-half Louis Roumignac, with Will Smithen, two more of last year’s top Colts, Patrick Brown and Fin Ivory, and Joe Croft completing a squad which is subject to change.
Kick-off at Kingsey Road is 7.30pm.
Returning Students @ Chinnor
(15-9, 1-8) Whattam, Jeanes, Bennett, Pett-Ridge, Passmore, David, Ede; Morgans, Benton, Stanners, D Coleman, Webber, Rushton, Grahame, Richardson
Replacements: Ireland, Marsden, A Coleman, Jessett, Warwick, Roumignac, Smithen, Brown, Ivory, Croft