Former Worcester players Tom Wood and Graham Kitchener will both return to Sixways this Sunday as Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers battle it out in the LV= Cup Final!
Club captain Geordan Murphy returns to lead Tigers and laeds a team which also includes Thomas Waldrom, Logoviii Mulipola, George Skivington and Matt Smith in changes to the line-up which started against Bath in the semi-final.
Toby Flood, released from the England squad alongside Waldrom earlier this week, is named among the replacements.
Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill said: “There is a big rivalry between the clubs as such close neighbours, but it is a healthy rivalry because there is a lot of respect for the work of both clubs. We know each other well, there is a lot of history there, and every game between Leicester and Northampton is a big game.
“The two teams have never met in a cup final before so this promises to be a great occasion for the players and the supporters. It’ll be full-blooded and fully committed, and should be a great spectacle.”
Leicester Tigers:
15 Geordan Murphy (c)
14 Horacio Agulla
13 Matt Smith
12 Billy Twelvetrees
11 Scott Hamilton
10 George Ford
9 James Grindal
1 Boris Stankovich
2 Rob Hawkins
3 Logoviii Mulipola
4 George Skivington
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Steve Mafi
7 Craig Newby
8 Thomas Waldrom
16 Tom Youngs
17 Marcos Ayerza
18 Julian White
19 Calum Green
20 Julian Salvi
21 Scott Steele
22 Toby Flood
23 Andy Forsyth
Northampton Director of Rugby Jim Mallinder said the final will have plenty of spice when the local rivals run out to face each other.
“When you start the season you only play in three competitions and you set out to win all three,” he said. “Unfortunately we got knocked out of the Heineken Cup so we’re left in two. We want to win both of those, and this starts on Sunday with the match against a Leicester team which showed all its qualities in the win down at Bath last weekend.
“Recently they’ve been playing well in the Premiership and LV= Cup and getting good results. It’s going to be a very competitive game, very physical, and tough at the breakdown and set piece.
“But nobody wants to get to a final and lose – it makes for a depressing trip home. You want to get there and win, and that’s what we’ve been focusing on all week.”
Northampton Saints
15 Paul DIGGIN
14 Vasily ARTEMYEV
13 George PISI
12 James DOWNEY
11 Scott ARMSTRONG
10 Stephen MYLER
9 Martin ROBERTS
1 Soane TONGA’UIHA
2 Andy LONG
3 Paul DORAN JONES
4 James CRAIG
5 Christian DAY
6 Calum CLARK (capt)
7 Tom WOOD
8 Roger WILSON
16 Ross MCMILLAN
17 Alex WALLER
18 Brian MUJATI
19 Mark SORENSON
20 Ben NUTLEY
21 Ryan GLYNN
22 Ryan LAMB
23 Tom MAY
Tickets remain available for Sunday’s game. Prices start at £20 for adults with junior tickets just £10 throughout the stadium and supporters can order theirs directly from Sixways by calling 01905 454183.