David to make Premiership debut against Bath

Nick David will make his Gallagher Premiership debut for Warriors against Bath Rugby at Sixways on Saturday (kick-off 3.00pm).

The Three Pears Warriors Academy youngster has played much of his rugby at full-back but will start on the left wing against Bath.

David has made three senior starts this season on the wing in the European Challenge Cup and gets his Premiership debut in the absence of the injured Melani Nanai – who has been ruled out for the season – Ed Fidow, Tom Howe Perry Humphreys and Dean Hammond.

Utility back Scott van Breda will make his first Premiership start on the right wing in place of Humphreys (hip) as one of six changes to the side that faced Wasps three weeks ago.

Van Breda, who made two Premiership appearances off the bench last season, has had two spells on loan with Isuzu Southern Kings in the Guinness Pro-14 this season.

South Africa international scrum-half Francois Hougaard returns having recovered from a  foot injury with former England full-back Chris Pennell and fit-again South Africa centre Francois Venter recalled in place of Jamie Shillcock (thigh) and Ashley Beck (illness).

Warriors welcome back three players who have been involved in Six Nations squad sessions in recent weeks.
Blindside flanker Ted Hill returns to club duty having trained with England for two weeks with number eight Cornell du Preez and fly-half Duncan Weir back from Scotland training.

Du Preez won his seventh cap but first since he joined Warriors from Edinburgh two years ago, as a replacement in the Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin.

Lock Andrew Kitchener has recovered from a shoulder injury and is named among the replacements.

Warriors
15 Chris Pennell
14 Scott van Breda
13 Ollie Lawrence
12 Francois Venter
11 Nick David
10 Duncan Weir
9 Francois Hougaard
1  Ethan Waller
2 Matt Moulds (C)
3 Nick Schonert
4 Anton Brelser
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Ted Hill
7 Marco Mama
8 Cornell du Preez

Replacements
16  Joe Taufete’e
17  Ryan Bower
18  Richard Palframan
19  Andrew Kitchener
20  Sam Lewis
21  Michael Heaney
22  Jono Lance
23  Ryan Mills

Not considered because of injury or illness: Niall Annett, Ashley Beck, Callum Black Justin Clegg, Conor Carey, Michael Fatialofa,  Ed Fidow, Dean Hammond, Alex Hearle,  Noah Heward, Tom Howe, Perry Humphreys, Joe Morris, Farai Mudariki, Melani Nanai, Jamie Shillcock.

Bath Rugby | 15 Tom Homer, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Jackson Willison, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Ruaridh McConnochie, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Will Chudley, 1 Beno Obano, 2 Tom Dunn, 3 Christian Judge, 4 Josh McNally, 5 Elliott Stooke, 6 Tom Ellis, 7 Francois Louw (C), 8 Zach Mercer.

Replacements | 16 Jack Walker, 17 Lewis Boyce, 18 Sam Nixon, 19 Mike Williams, 20 Taulupe Faletau, 21 Chris Cook, 22 Freddie Burns, 23 Max Wright.

 

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