Anglo-Welsh Cup: School stars again handed their chance

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After some cracking rugby last weekend the Anglo Welsh Cup returns this weekend.

 

Once again almost every side is packed with youngsters, with a number of schoolboys again selected.

 

As last week, it is Sale Sharks that lead the way on that front, Sedbergh’s Cameron Redpath missing out on a game for his school against RGS Lancaster to start at inside centre for the second week in a for Sale Sharks.

 

There are two more schoolboys on the bench, Kirkham Grammar School’s Conor Doherty and Kieran Wilkinson, who, like Redpath, are involved for the second week in a row. Kirkham leaver Arron Reed is again on the wing, while Sedbergh leaver, and England U18 skipper last year, Sam Moore, is on the blindside flank alongside Ben Curry, whose twin brother Tom was on the England bench until a wrist injury forced his withdrawl.

 

Sale’s task this week is to host Saracens, who themselves have gone for plenty of youth, particularly in the backline with a half back pairing on former Rosslyn Park player of the tournament Tom Whiteley and England U20 star Max Malins, and a centre partnership of former England age-grade stars Nick Tompkins and Rotimi Segun. Former Whitgift star Matt Gallagher is at full back, with former World Rugby U20 Championship winner Nathan Earle on the wing.

 

Saracens are once again skippered by the former Tonbridge skipper Ben Earl, in just his second year out of school, fellow former U20 stars Jack Nay and Joel Conlon are once again alongside him in the back row, while the likes of Reuben Bird-Tulloch, Sean Reffell, and Ali Crossdale all wait for their chance on the bench.

 

Worcester Warriors have also kept a schoolboy in their ranks. They face Harlequins on Sunday and include Bromsgrove School captain Ollie Lawrence on the bench. Lawrence scored a try last week for Worcester and set up another in an exciting performance. Scotland U20 number 8 Tom Dodd starts, with England U20 number 8 Ted Hill on the bench.

 

The Quins side that faces them has a real mix to it, but one of the most exciting points is that former Trinity winger, and England U18 skipper, Gabriel Ibitoye will start. The bench is full of young talent, with Marcus Smith returning from injury, former Epsom skipper Niall Saunders set for his debut as replacement scrum half, his skipper the year before, Archie White, covering the back row alongside ex Cranleigh star Dino Lamb-Cona, and a young front row replacement set of Charlie Piper, Lewis Boyce, and last week’s dramatic try scorer, former Dulwich star Josh Ibuanokpe.

 

Wasps travel to the Ospreys on Friday night and include youngsters Connor Eastgate and Jacob Umaga at 10 and 12 after having them on the bench last week. Fellow youngsters Owain James and Aaron Sullivan keep their places at full abck and right wing, while Will Stuart comes in at tighthead. England U20 graduate Jack Willis camptains the side from the blindside.

 

Also on Friday is Bath v Leicester Tigers. Bath again start former Denstone College star Levi Davies, who will come up against his old schoolmates in Tigers colours, Ben White and Sam Lewis. Max Green, the former England U20 scrum half, makes his first Bath start after moving from Yorkshire Carnegie, while former Millfield star Josh Bayliss is at openside. Will Vaughan, Sam Nixon and Darren Atkins are all on the bench, as is England apprentice Zach Mercer.

 

Tigers hand first starts to U18 graduates Tom Hardwick, Jordan Olowofela and Tommy Reffell as they name a much more youthful side than in their opening encounter last week.

 

Gloucester have opted for an experienced lineup against London Irish, but the same cannot be said of the Exiles, who start with a youthful half back pairing of Rory Brand and Theo Brophy-Clews. Also included are Brand’s former Wellington College teammates, with Ben Loader on the wing and Josh Basham at blindside flanker, Matt Williams, a centre with that group at Wellington, is on the bench.

 

Newcastle Falcons have also gone fairly experienced for their game against Cardiff Blues, though the exciting Adam Radwan is again on the wing. Cardiff select Wales U18 star Ben Thomas on the bench.

 

Northampton Saints are another side to go fairly experienced, though with the Stephenson, Hutchinson, Mallinder axis at 12, 13, 15, there is a lot of future talent there. Their bench includes the likes of Alex Mitchell, James Grayson, and Alex Moon.

 

The final game of the weekend sees a young Scarlets side host Exeter Chiefs. Scarlets include four academy players, including 18 year old Tom Rogers on the left wing.

 

Exeter hand another start to former Dulwich College star Tom O’Flaherty on the right wing, with Joe Simmonds at fly half again. Jack Maunder and Exeter University fly half Sam Morley are among a youthful looking Exeter bench.

 

Anglo-Welsh Cup Fixtures:

 

Ospreys v Wasps

Bath v Leicester Tigers

Sale Sharks v Saracens

 

Gloucester v London Irish

Newcastle Falcons v Cardiff Blues

Northampton Saints v Dragons

 

Harlequins v Worcester Warriors

Scarlets v Exeter Chiefs

 

Team News:

 

Ospreys

15 Phil Jones,
14 Dafydd Howells,
13 Tom Williams,
12 Kieran Williams,
11 Jay Baker,
10 Luke Price (c),
9 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 1 Gareth Thomas,
2 Ifan Phillips,
3 Rhodri Jones,
4 James Ratti,
5 Rory Thornton,
6 Joe Tomalin-Reeves,
7 Will Jones,
8 Morgan Morris.

Replacements: 16 Hugh Gustafson,
17 Rowan Jenkins,
18 Alex Jeffries,
19 Matthew Dodd,
20 Jay Williams,
21 Matthew Aubrey,
22 Cai Evans,
23 Rhys Williams.

 

Wasps

15 Owain James,
14 Aaron O’Sullivan,
13 Brendan Macken,
12 Jacob Umaga,
11 Guy Armitage,
10 Connor Eastgate,
9 Craig Hampson, 1 Paul Doran Jones,
2 Antonio TJ Harris,
3 Will Stuart,
4 Marcus Garratt,
5 Matt Symons,
6 Jack Willis (c),
7 Will Owen, 8 Nizaam Carr.

Replacements:
16 Gabriel Oghre, 17 George Thornton,
18 David Langley,
19 Guy Borrowdale,
20 James Seabrook,
21 Joe Simpson,
22 Taju Atta,
23 Josh Grimes.

 

Bath

15 Tom Homer,
14 Jack Wilson,
13 Max Clark,
12 Matt Banahan,
11 Levi Davis,
10 Freddie Burns,
9 Max Green, 1 Nick Auterac,
2 Michael van Vuuren,
3 Scott Andrews,
4 Levi Douglas,
5 James Phillips,
6 Matt Garvey (c),
7 Josh Bayliss, 8 Paul Grant.

Replacements: 16 Jack Walker,
17 Will Vaughan,
18 Sam Nixon,
19 Elliott Stooke,
20 Zach Mercer,
21 Darren Allinson,
22 Harry Davies,
23 Darren Atkins.

 

Leicester Tigers

15 Harry Simmons, 14 Jonah Holmes,
13 Jordan Olowofela,
12 Charlie Thacker,
11 Adam Thompstone,
10 Tom Hardwick,
9 Ben White, 1 Kyle Traynor,
2 Harry Thacker (c),
3 Chris Baumann,
4 Harry Wells,
5 Dan Tuohy,
6 Sam Lewis,
7 Tommy Reffell,
8 Fred Tuilagi.

Replacements:
16 Jake Kerr,
17 Owen Hills,
18 Ben Betts,
19 Joe Maksymiw,
20 Harry Mahoney,
21 Sam Wager,
22 Will Yarnell,
23 Ravai Fatiaki.

 

Sale Sharks

15 Mike Haley, 14 Byron McGuigan, 13 Luke James, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Arron Reed, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Will Cliff, 1 James Flynn, 2 Curtis Langdon, 3 Alexandru Tarus, 4 George Nott, 5 Matt Postlethwaite, 6 Sam Moore, 7 Ben Curry, 8 Josh Strauss (c).

Replacements: 16 Marc Jones, 17 Jake Pope, 18 WillGriff John, 19 David Seymour, 20 Nic Dolly, 21 Matt Sturgess, 22 Kieran Wilkinson, 23 Connor Doherty.

 

Saracens

15 Matt Gallagher,
14 Nathan Earle,
13 Rotimi Segun,
12 Nick Tompkins,
11 Mike Ellery,
10 Max Malins,
9 Tom Whiteley, 1 Richard Barrington,
2 Scott Spurling,
3 Kieran Longbottom,
4 Will Skelton,
5 Mark Flanagan,
6 Jack Nay,
7 Joel Conlon, 8 Ben Earl (c).

Replacements: 16 Tadgh McElroy,
17 Hayden Thompson-Stringer,
18 Billy Walker,
19 Danny Cutmore,
20 Sean Reffell,
21 Ben Spencer,
22 Rueben Bird-Tulloch,
23 Ali Crossdale.

 

Gloucester

15 Tom Hudson, 14 Henry Purdy, 13 Henry Trinder, 12 Billy Twelvetrees, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Billy Burns, 9 Willi Heinz (c), 1 Val Rapava Ruskin, 2 Richard Hibbard, 3 John Afoa, 4 Ed Slater, 5 Jeremy Thrush, 6 Jake Polledri, 7 Jacob Rowan, 8 Lewis Ludlow.

Replacements:
16 James Hanson, 17 Josh Hohneck, 18 Gareth Denman, 19 Tom Savage, 20 Will Safe, 21 Callum Braley, 22 Lloyd Evans, 23 Andy Symons.

 

London Irish

15 Greig Tonks, 14 Ben Ransom, 13 Fergus Mulchrone (c), 12 Luke McLean, 11 Ben Loader, 10 Theo Brophy Clews, 9 Rory Brand, 1 Tom Smallbone, 2 Tom Woolstencroft, 3 Ollie Hoskins, 4 Will Lloyd, 5 Jack Cooke, 6 Josh Basham, 7 Max Northcote-Green, 8 Jake Schatz.

Replacements: 16 Todd Gleave, 17 Harry Elrington, 18 Lovejoy Chawatama, 19 Blair Cowan, 20 Ben Donnell, 21 Ben Meehan, 22 Jacob Atkins, 23 Matt Williams.

 

Newcastle Falcons

15 Alex Tait,
14 Adam Radwan,
13 Maxime Mermoz,
12 Josh Matavesi,
11 Sinoti Sinoti,
10 Joel Hodgson,
9 Michael Young, 1 Sami Mavinga,
2 Scott Lawson,
3 Jon Welsh,
4 Calum Green,
5 Sean Robinson,
6 Mark Wilson,
7 Will Welch (c),
8 Ryan Burrows.

Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper,
17 Rob Vickers,
18 Scott Wilson,
19 Will Witty,
20 Gary Graham,
21 Sam Stuart,
22 Belisario Agulla,
23 Juan Pablo Socino.

 

Cardiff Blues

15 Rhun Williams, 14 Owen Lane, 13 Jack Roberts, 12 Harri Millard, 11 Tom James, 10 Ben Jones, 9 Dane Blacker, 1 Brad Thyer, 2 Ethan Lewis, 3 Anton Peikrishvili, 4 George Earle (c), 5 James Down, 6 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 7 Ben White, 8 Sion Bennett.

Replacements: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Rhys Carre, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Ben Murphy, 20 Callum Bradbury, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Ben Thomas, 23 Dan Fish.

 

Northampton Saints

15 Harry Mallinder,
14 Juan Pablo Estelles,
13 Rory Hutchinson,
12 Tom Stephenson,
11 Ken Pisi,
10 Stephen Myler,
9 Cobus Reinach, 1 Francois van Wyk,
2 Reece Marshall,
3 Jamal Ford-Robinson,
4 Michael Paterson,
5 Sam Dickinson (c),
6 Tom Wood,
7 Ben Nutely,
8 Mitch Eadie.

Replacements: 16 Mikey Haywood,
17 Matt Beesley,
18 Paul Hill,
19 Alex Moon,
20 Teimana Harrison,
21 Alex Mitchell,
22 James Grayson,
23 Ben Foden.

 

Dragons

15 Joe Goodchild, 14 Jared Rosser, 13 Joe Thomas, 12 Pat Howard, 11 Ashton Hewitt (c), 10 Arwel Robson, 9 Charlie Davies, 1 Luke Garrett, 2 Liam Belcher, 3 Lloyd Fairbrother, 4 Matthew Screech, 5 Rynard Landman, 6 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Ben Roach, 8 Huw Worthington.

Replacements: 16 Gerard Ellis, 17 Thomas Davies, 18 Brok Harris, 19 Scott Andrews, 20 Lennon Greggains, 21 Owain Leonard, 22 Angus O’Brien, 23 Adam Warren.

 

Harlequins

15 Tim Visser, 14 Gabriel Ibitoye, 13 Harry Sloan, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Alofa Alofa, 10 James Lang, 9 Calum Waters, 1 Mark Lambert, 2 Elia Elia, 3 Josh McNulty, 4 George Merrick, 5 Charlie Matthews, 6 Ben Glynn, 7 James Chisholm (c), 8 Mat Luamanu.

Replacements: 16 Charlie Piper, 17 Lewis Boyce, 18 Josh Ibuanokpe, 19 Dino Lamb, 20 Archie White, 21 Niall Saunders, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Ross Chisholm.

 

Worcester Warriors

15 Ben Howard,
14 Alex Hearle,
13 Max Stelling,
12 Will Butler (c),
11 Dean Hammond,
10 Sam Olver, 9 Luke Baldwin, 1 Ryan Bower,
2 Kurt Haupt,
3 Simon Kerrod, 4 Christian Scotland-Williamson,
5 Darren Barry,
6 Huw Taylor,
7 Andrew Durutalo,
8 Tom Dodd.

Replacements:
16 Joe Taufete’e,
17 Gareth Milasinovich,
18 Nick Schonert,
19 Pierce Phillips,
20 Ted Hill,
21 Peter Stringer,
22 Afeafe Haisila Lokotui,
23 Ollie Lawrence.

 

Scarlets

15 Morgan Williams, 14 Morgan Griffiths (Carmarthen Quins), 13 Ioan Nicholas, 12 Rhodri Jones, (Llandovery), 11 Tom Rogers (Scarlets Academy), 10 Jack Maynard, 9 Declan Smith, 1 Rhys Fawcett, 2 Dafydd Hughes, 3 Simon Gardiner, 4 Josh Helps, 5 Tom Price, 6 Jack Jones, (Llandovery), 7 Shaun Evans, 8 Jack Condy.

Replacements: 16 Torin Myhill (Carmarthen Quins), 17 Steffan Thomas (Scarlets Academy), 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Shaun Jones (Carmarthen Quins), 20 Dan Davis (Scarlets Academy), 21 Gareth George (Llanelli), 22 Lewis Williams (Llanelli), 23 Scott Lloyd (Scarlets Academy).

 

Exeter Chiefs

15 Phil Dollman, 14 Tom O’Flaherty, 13 Ollie Devoto, 12 Sam Hill, 11 James Short, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Stuart Townsend, 1 Alec Hepburn, 2 Shaun Malton, 3 Moray Low, 4 Toby Salmon, 5 Sam Skinner, 6 James Freeman, 7 Matt Kvesic, 8 Kai Horstmann (c).

Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Carl Rimmer, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Ed Holmes, 20 Dave Ewers, 21 Jack Maunder, 22 Sam Morley, 23 Tom Hendrickson.

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