Rinakama named in Cavaliers squad for Shield opener

Fiji international tighthead prop Ropate Rinakama is set to make his first appearance for the club in Cavaliers’ opening Premiership Rugby Shield match of the season against Sale Jets at Sixways on Monday November 25 (kick-off 7.30pm).

Rinakama arrived at Sixways earlier this month as a ‘medical joker’ on a short-term contract while Nick Schonert and Farai Mudariki were recovering from injuries.

Rinakama was travelling reserve for Warriors last Gallagher Premiership match at Harlequins two weeks ago and for the opening European Challenge Cup match against Enisei-STM in Russia last week.

He has been named in a provisional Cavaliers squad for Monday’s opener along with fellow tighthead Joe Morris, who has joined Warriors full time this season having completed his studies at Oxford University.

There are 15 players who were involved in the win over Enisei in Krasnodar in the Cavaliers squad with full-back Scott van Breda, who enjoyed a successful two-match loan spell with Southern Kings in the Guinness Pro-14 and Luke Scully, who has been training with Wales Under-20s, the exceptions.

Lock Justin Clegg, who has been named as a replacement for Warriors’ European Challenge Cup match against Castres in France this weekend, is also in the Cavaliers squad.

Matt McNab of Hartpury is the one guest player in the squad but there are three gaps yet to be filled by coach Gordon Ross.

Cavaliers (from) | Scott Van Breda, Tom Howe,Oli Morris, Luke Scully, Nick David, Gareth Simpson, Jonno Kitto, Ryan Bower, Isaac Miller, Joe Morris, Justin Clegg, James Scott, Morgan Monks, Matt Cox, Tom Dodd, Beck Cutting, Kai Owen, Ropate Rinakama, Callum Morris, Matt McNab (Hartpury).

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