Cavaliers will have two internationals in the front row when they resume their Premiership Rugby Shield campaign against Northampton Wanderers at Sixways tonight (Monday) (kick-off 7.30pm).
USA hooker Joe Taufete’e, who was shortlisted for the World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year Award last month, will pack down alongside Fiji tighthead prop Ropate Rinakama as unbeaten Cavaliers go in search of a fourth straight win in the Shield’s Conference North.
Twelve of tonight’s side started in the 31-29 victory over Gloucester United at Kingsholm nine days ago with Taufete’e, Rinakama and Hartpury wing Elias Caven the three additions to the team.
Caven comes in for Tom Howe who played for Warriors in Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership victory over London Irish at Sixways.
Number eight Tom Dodd, whose late try clinched victory over Gloucester, will again captain Cavaliers with centre Ollie Lawrence set to make his comeback from an ankle injury off the bench.
Stef Thorp, an experienced tighthead prop from Stourbridge, is one of three guest players in the Cavaliers matchday squad.
Cavaliers
15 Noah Heward
14 Elias Caven (Hartpury)
13 Scott Van Breda
12 Luke Scully
11 Nick David
10 Gareth Simpson
9 Jono Kitto
1 Kai Owen
2 Joe Taufete’e
3 Ropate Rinakama
4 Justin Clegg
5 Andrew Kitchener
6 Morgan Monks
7 Matt Cox
8 Tom Dodd (C)
Replacements
16 Isaac Miller
17 Lewis Holsey
18 Stef Thorp (Stourbridge)
19 James Scott
20 Beck Cutting
21 Callum Morris
22 Ollie Lawrence
23 Ezra Caven (Old Redcliffians)
Northampton Wanderers | 15 Harry Mallinder, 14 Josh Gillespie, 13 Fraser Dingwall, 12 Fraser Strachan, 11 Ryan Olowofela, 10 James Grayson (C), 9 Connor Tupai, 1 Ben Franks, 2 James Fish, 3 Owen Franks, 4 Lewis Bean, 5 Alex Coles, 6 Devante Onojaife, 7 Ollie Newman, 8 Mitch Eadie.
Replacements | 16 Reece Marshall, 17 Toby Trinder, 18 Karl Garside, 19 Emmanuel Iyogun, 20 Michael van Vuuren, 21 Tui Uru, 22 Fin Creighton, 23 Tommy Mathews.