TEAM NEWS | Warriors make six changes for European clash

Warriors have made six changes to the starting line-up ahead of Saturday’s all-important European Challenge Cup battle with Connacht Rugby at Sixways (kick-off 3pm).

Head Coach Carl Hogg has kept nine players from the first-team side that battled Bath Rugby in Aviva Premiership action last weekend, as Warriors search for a win to put one foot in the door of the European Challenge Cup knockout stages.

Perry Humphreys, Dean Hammond, Jamie Shillcock, Simon Kerrod, Darren Barry and Pierce Phillips are all called up for the clash.

Wing duo Humphreys and Hammond are handed starts on the wing while in-form Josh Adams who won the Premiership Player of the Month award earlier this week, moves to full-back.

Chris Pennell makes the switch to the centres to join Ryan Mills while Francois Hougaard lines up with Shillcock in the half-back combination.

In the pack, Kerrod lines up with Ethan Waller and Jack Singleton in the front row with Barry and Phillips in the second row.

Skipper GJ van Velze leads the side from the back row joined by David Denton and Sam Lewis.

In the replacements, Matt Cox could be set for his first Warriors showing since September following a bicep injury, while Matti Williams, Biyi Alo, Huw Taylor and Ben Howard are called up to the bench.

Warriors have not reached the knockout stages of Europe since 2009, a season where they went on to the semi-finals.

Warriors
15 Josh Adams
14 Perry Humphreys
13 Chris Pennell
12 Ryan Mills
11 Dean Hammond
10 Jamie Shillcock
9 Francois Hougaard
1 Ethan Waller
2 Jack Singleton
3 Simon Kerrod
4 Darren Barry
5 Pierce Phillips
6 David Denton
7 Sam Lewis
8 GJ van Velze (C)

Replacements
16 Matti Williams
17 Ryan Bower
18 Biyi Alo
19 Huw Taylor
20 Matt Cox
21 Michael Dowsett
22 Sam Olver
23 Ben Howard