Worcester Cavaliers have named a strong side for tonight’s clash with Sale Under 23s at Heywood Road (kick-off 7.30pm).
Academy Manager Mark Hewitt has included four players with Aviva Premiership experience as Mat Gilbert, Carl Kirwan, Max Stelling and Ravai Fatiaki are named in the starting line-up.
Mike Daniels, Dan Sanderson and Perry Humphreys, who all appeared during Cavaliers’ run to the Aviva A League Final last season, also start.
The team includes a mixture of youth with the addition of Academy players Josh Adams, Jamie Shillcock, Sam Ripper-Smith, Andrew Kitchener and Jack Singleton, while summer signing Derrick Appiah is named at loosehead prop.
Warriors Under 18 scrum-half Josh Nott and Hartpury’s Jonas Mikallcius complete the line-up.
Hewitt said: “The start of the Aviva A League season is drawing closer and we are looking to prepare these players to ensure they are in a good place over the next few weeks.
“We have a lot of players who are also pushing for a place in the first-team so we have a hungry squad who will want to do well this season.”
Worcester Cavaliers:
15 Perry Humphreys
14 Josh Adams
13 Max Stelling
12 Ravai Fatiaki
11 Jonas Mikallcius (Hartpury)
10 Jamie Shillcock
9 Josh Nott (RGS Worcester/Warriors U18)
1 Derrick Appiah
2 Jack Singleton
3 Mike Daniels
4 Dan Sanderson
5 Andrew Kitchener
6 Carl Kirwan
7 Sam Ripper-Smith
8 Mat Gilbert
Replacements
16 Ben Sowrey
17 Joe White (Luctonians RFC)
18 James Page
19 Charlie Hewitt
20 Zac Xiourouppa
21 Robbie Smith (Hartpury/Warriors U18)
22 Stan Mayne (Worcester Sixth Form College/Warriors U18)