Andrew Stanley takes a strong Academy squad to Henley, tonight, for a development match against Henley Hawks at Dry Leas (7.30pm).
The starting line-up includes first-team squad members Ben Gotting, Uche Oduoza, Callum Black and James Collins – the latter making his first appearance since sustaining concussion in a head-to-head collision with Henry Tuilagi in the A team’s historic win at Welford Road, in late November.
There’s also a place for England U19 rising stars Matt Cox and Royal Grammar School student Johnny Arr, while fellow squad member Greg King starts on the bench.
There’s also a welcome return to action for the pacey Miles Benjamin, who broke an ankle playing for Warriors against Leicester in the pre-season Middlesex Sevens at Twickenham.
Stan will have 26 players on the coach, and everyone is expected to appear at some point.
“We’ll probably make wholesale changes at half-time to give the lads on the replacements bench game time,” says academy assistant manager Gary Meechan.
Team: 01 Matt Mullan, 02 Ben Gotting, 03 Callum Black, 04 Sam McDonald, 05 Matt Cox, 06 Tom Wood, 07 James Collins, 08 Craig Everitt, 09 Johnny Arr, 10 Joey Carlisle, 11 Uche Oduoza, 12 Harry Owens, 13 Tom Wheatcroft, 14 Miles Benjamin, 15 Jamie Lennard
Replacements: 16 Jordan Page, 17 James Tideswell, 18 Jack Gilding, 19 Dave Hughes, 20 Owen Jones, 21 Greg King, 22 Greg Evans, 23 Ollie Frost, 24 Vince Lanciano, 25 Martin Freeman, 26 Charlie Fellows