Round 4 of the Anglo-Welsh Cup takes place this weekend, with eight games across three days.
The teams are not quite as young as they have been over the last few rounds as many players from each squads are involved in the U20 6 Nations Championship, which begins this evening.
Friday
On Friday Harlequins take on Sale Sharks, Quins start with former England U20 star Aaron Morris at full back, while former England U20 skipper, Jack Clifford, is on the bench as the England back row continues his injury recovery. Sale have Ben Curry on the bench, his twin brother Tom starts for England U20, and the two are likely to swap later in the Championship. Former England U20 stars George Nott and Cameron Neild are also in the bench.
The other Friday night game sees Northampton Saints host the Scarlets. Saints pick Harry Mallinder at inside centre, while former St Joseph’s College skipper Lewis Ludlam starts at openside. Scarlets start last year’s Wales U20 fly half, Billy McBryde.
Saturday
Saturday features three games, Cardiff Blues host Worcester warriors and select the likes of Cam Dolan, Cory Allen, and Harri Millard. Worcester meanwhile pick last year’s England U20 hooker Jack Singleton, while the bench includes recent U20 prospects, Andrew Kitchener and recently signed Biyi Alo.
In another Anglo-Welsh fixture, Gloucester welcome Newport Gwent Dragons. The Cherry and Whites select former Hartpury College star Mat Protheroe at full back and are skippered by former England U20 captain Callum Braley at scrum half. There is yet more youth in the backline with Lloyd Evans and Elliott Creed at 10 and 12. The Dragons have former Wales international Tom Prydie on the wing, with the recent U20 graduate Angus O’Brien on the bench.
Rounding off Saturday’s action is Newcastle Falcons v Bath, and both have picked exciting sides. Newcastle have former U20 flyer Zach Kibirige on the wing, with Craig Willis at fly half, while on the bench last year’s Scotland U20 star Andrew Davidson awaits, so too youngster Tom Penny. Bath have former Bryanston man Max Clark at outside centre, with former Millfield and Scotland U20 star Adam Hastings at fly half. Ex England U20 skipper Jack Walker is at hooker, with another former Millfield man, Tom Ellis, in the second row. The bench sees another ex Millfield man, Sam Nixon, awaiting a potential debut, with ex schoolmate Darren Atkins also on the bench, alongside Sherborne old boy Wil Homer.
Sunday
Exeter Chiefs’ side to play Bristol on Sunday looks experienced, though Joe Simmonds and Jack Maunder, released from England U20, at half back are young, so too schoolboy Joe Snow on the bench. Bristol include Callum Sheedy at fly half, the former Millfield star was crucial in their play off run last year but injury has curtailed his progress this year. They also include Bristol Grammar School’s Tom Rowland on the bench.
Saracens v Leicester Tigers is always an exciting game, and both name exciting teams. Tom Whiteley, fresh from singing a 1st XV contract, starts at fly half, with former England U20 star Henry Taylor at scrum half with fellow ex U20 stars Matt Gallagher, Nick Tompkins, and Nathan Earle joining him in the backline. Tigers include George Worth at full back, Charlie Thacker at outside centre, and more his brother Harry to openside. Youngsters Joe Maksymiw and Ben White are on the bench, while Maxime Mermoz could make his debut.
Finally to Wasps v Ospreys. Wasps have ex England U20 flyer Piers O’Conor at full back, with Will Stuart and Jack Willis in the pack. Tom Willis and Tom Howe are on the bench, where they are joined by Merchant Taylors’ scrum half, Will Porter. The Ospreys include former NatWest Cup winner Tom O’Flaherty on the wing.
Anglo-Welsh Cup Fixtures:
Friday
Harlequins v Sale Sharks
Northampton Saints v Scarlets
Saturday
Cardiff Blues v Worcester Warriors
Gloucester v Newport Gwent Dragons
Newcastle Falcons v Bath
Sunday
Bristol v Exeter Chiefs
Saracens v Leicester Tigers
Wasps v Ospreys
Team News
Harlequins
15 Aaron Morris, 14 Charlie Walker, 13 Matt Hopper, 12 Winston Stanley, 11 Alofa Alofa, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Charlie Mulchrone, 1 Owen Evans, 2 Rob Buchanan, 3 Adam Jones, 4 George Merrick, 5 James Horwill, 6 George Naoupu, 7 Dave Ward (c), 8 Mat Luamanu.
Replacements: 16 Jack Clifford, 17 Matt Shields, 18 Tyler Gendall, 19 Mark Reddish, 20 Luke Wallace, 21 Luc Jones, 22 Tim Swiel, 23 Joe Marchant.
Sale Sharks
15 Mike Haley, 14 Denny Solomona, 13 Will Addison (c), 12 Mark Jennings, 11 Byron McGuigan, 10 Sam James, 9 Mike Phillips, 1 Ross Harrison, 2 Neil Briggs, 3 Brian Mujati, 4 Bryn Evans, 5 Jonathan Mills, 6 T.J. Ioane, 7 Magnus Lund, 8. Laurence Pearce.
Replacements: 16 Cameron Neild, 17 James Flynn, 18 Kieran Longbottom, 19 George Nott, 20 Ben Curry, 21 Peter Stringer, 22 Dan Mugford, 23 Johnny Leota.
Northampton Saints
15 Ahsee Tuala, 14 Ken Pisi, 13 Nafi Tuitavake, 12 Harry Mallinder, 11 Ben Foden (c), 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Nic Groom, 1 Ethan Waller, 2 Mikey Haywood, 3 Kieran Brookes, 4 Michael Paterson, 5 Christian Day, 6 Jamie Gibson, 7 Lewis Ludlam, 8 Sam Dickinson.
Replacements: 16 James Fish, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Paul Hill, 19 David Ribbans, 20 James Craig, 21 Lee Dickson, 22 Rory Hutchinson, 23 Juan Pablo Estelles.
Scarlets
15 Dion Jones, 14 Tom Williams, 13 Richard Smith, 12 Rhodri Jones, 11 Morgan Griffiths, 10 Billy McBryde, 9 Connor Lloyd, 1 Gethin Robinson, 2 Dafydd Hughes, 3 Simon Gardiner, 4 Josh Helps, 5 Rynier Bernardo, 6 Tom Phillips, 7 Shaun Evans, 8 Morgan Allen (c).
Replacements: 16 Rhys Fawcett, 17 Torin Myhill, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Phil Day, 20 Jack Condy, 21 Rhodri Cole, 22 Jack Maynard, 23 Ashley Evans.
Cardiff Blues
15 Aled Summerhill, 14 Teri Gee, 13 Cory Allen, 12 Garyn Smith, 11 Harri Millard, 10 Jarrod Evans, 9 Tomos Williams, 1 Marc Thomas, 2 Kirby Myhill, 3 Taufa’ao Filise, 4 Ben Edwards, 5 James Down, 6 Seb Davies, 7 Jake Thomas, 8 Cam Dolan.
Replacements: 16 Ethan Lewis, 17 Corey Domachowski, 18 Ben Leung, 19 Sion Bennett, 20 James Sheekey, 21 Pele Cowley, 22 Steve Shingler, 23 Gavin Dacey.
Worcester Warriors
15 Josh Adams, 14 Bryce Heem, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Jackson Willison, 11 Dean Hammond, 10 Ryan Mills, 9 Francois Hougaard, 1 Val Rapava Ruskin, 2 Jack Singleton, 3 Nick Schonert , 4 Darren Barry, 5 Will Spencer, 6 Chris Vui, 7 Sam Lewis, 8 Dewald Potgieter (c).
Replacements: 16 Jaba Bregvadze, 17 Ryan Bower, 18 Biyi Alo, 19 Andrew Kitchener, 20 Alafoti Faosiliva, 21 Luke Baldwin, 22 Tom Heathcote, 23 Perry Humphreys.
Gloucester
15 Mat Protheroe, 14 David Halaifonua, 13 Henry Trinder, 12 Elliott Creed, 11 Tom Hudson, 10 Lloyd Evans, 9 Callum Braley (c), 1 Cameron Orr, 2 Motu Matu’u, 3 Salesi Ma’afu, 4 Joe Batley, 5 Tom Denton, 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Dan Thomas, 8 Freddie Clarke.
Replacements: 16 Darren Dawidiuk, 17 Yann Thomas, 18 Josh McNulty, 19 Joe Latta, 20 Will Safe, 21 Ben Vellacott, 22 Henry Purdy, 23 Charlie Beckett.
Newport Gwent Dragons
15 Carl Meyer, 14 Adam Hughes, 13 Tyler Morgan, 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Tom Prydie, 10 Dorian Jones, 9 Charlie Davies; 1 Sam Hobbs, 2 Thomas Rhys Thomas (c), 3 Lloyd Fairbrother, 4 Matthew Screech, 5 Ashley Sweet, 6 James Thomas, 7 Nic Cudd, 8 Nick Crosswell.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Buckley, 17 Thomas Davies, 18 Craig Mitchell, 19 Rynard Landman, 20 Robson Blake, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Angus O’Brien, 23 Sam Beard.
Newcastle Falcons
15 Mike Delany, 14 Zach Kibirige, 13 Nick Reynolds, 12 Fred Burdon (c), 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Craig Willis, 9 Michael Young, 1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 Ben Sowrey, 3 Paddy Ryan, 4 Mouritz Botha, 5 Glen Young, 6 Harrison Orr, 7 Tyrone Holmes, 8 Opeti Fonua.
Replacements: 16 David Nelson, 17 Rob Vickers, 18 Andrew Foster, 19 Andrew Davidson, 20 Nili Latu, 21 Sam Egerton, 22 Dan Marshall, 23 Tom Penny.
Bath
15 Harry Davies, 14 Jeff Williams, 13 Max Clark, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Jack Wilson, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Chris Cook, 1 Beno Obano, 2 Jack Walker, 3 Shaun Knight, 4 Levi Douglas, 5 Tom Ellis, 6 David Sisi, 7 Guy Mercer (c), 8 David Denton.
Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Darryl Marfo, 18 Sam Nixon, 19 Elliott Stooke, 20 Paul Grant, 21 Will Homer, 22 Darren Atkins, 23 Tom Homer.
Bristol
15 Luke Arscott, 14 Jordan Williams, 13 Jack Tovey, 12 Ben Mosses, 11 Charlie Amesbury, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Andy Uren, 1 Jamal Ford-Robinson, 2 Marc Jones, 3 James Hall, 4 Joe Joyce, 5 Ian Evans, 6 James Phillips, 7 Nick Koster, 8 Jordan Crane (c).
Replacements: 16 Max Crumpton, 17 Tom Rowland (BGS and Bristol Academy), 18 Alec Clarey, 19 John Hawkins, 20 Sam Jeffries, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 James Newey, 23 Siale Piutau.
Exeter Chiefs
15 Max Bodilly, 14 Olly Woodburn, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Henry Slade, 11 Lachie Turner, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Jack Maunder, 1 Carl Rimmer, 2 Shaun Malton, 3 Greg Holmes, 4 Sam Skinner (c), 5 Damian Welch, 6 Ben White, 7 Julian Salvi, 8 Sam Simmonds.
Replacements: 16 Jack Innard, 17 Moray Low, 18 Harry Williams, 19 Ollie Atkins, 20 Thomas Waldrom, 21 Joe Snow, 22 Will Hooley, 23 Matt Jess.
Saracens
15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Mike Ellery, 13 Tim Streather (c), 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Nathan Earle, 10 Tom Whiteley, 9 Henry Taylor, 1 Richard Barrington, 2 Jared Saunders, 3 Petrus Du Plessis, 4 Mark Flanagan, 5 Brian Tuilagi, 6 Joel Conlon, 7 Will Fraser, 8 Samu Vunisa.
Replacements: 16 Scott Spurling, 17 Titi Lamositele, 18 Billy Walker, 19 Kelly Brown, 20 Seb Nagle-Taylor (Ealing Trailfinders), 21 Neil De Kock, 22 Duncan Taylor, 23 Rotimi Segun.
Leicester Tigers
15 George Worth, 14 Peter Betham, 13 Charlie Thacker, 12 Oli Bryant, 11 George Catchpole, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Sam Harrison, 1 Michele Rizzo, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Pat Cilliers, 4 Harry Wells, 5 Dom Barrow (c), 6 Tom Croft, 7 Harry Thacker, 8 Luke Hamilton.
Replacements: 16 Brendon O’Connor, 17 Riccardo Brugnara, 18 Ben Betts, 19 Joe Maksymiw, 20 Mike Williams, 21 Ben White, 22 Maxime Mermoz, 23 Tom Brady.
Wasps
15 Piers O’Conor, 14 Alapati Leiua, 13 Brendan Macken, 12 Guy Armitage, 11 Frank Halai, 10 Warren Seals, 9 Craig Hampson, 1 Simon McIntyre, 2 Carlo Festuccia, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Marcus Garratt, 5 Will Rowlands, 6 James Gaskell (c), 7 Jack Willis, 8 Alex Rieder.
Replacements: 16 Adam Kwasnicki, 17 Tom Bristow, 18 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 19 Kearnan Myall, 20 Tom Willis, 21 Will Porter, 22 Nick De Luca, 23 Tom Howe.
Ospreys
15 Dafydd Howells, 14 Jay Baker, 13 Joe Thomas, 12 Jonathan Spratt, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 Luke Price, 9 Matthew Aubrey, 1 Rowan Jenkins, 2 Scott Otten, 3 Rhodri Jones, 4 James Ratti, 5 Adam Beard, 6 Tyler Ardron, 7 Joe Bearman, 8 Rob McCusker (c).
Replacements: 16 Hugh Gustafson, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Daniel Suter, 19 Lloyd Ashley, 20 Joe Tomalin-Reeves, 21 Dan Baker, 22 Kieron Fonotia, 23 Hanno Dirksen.
