17 - 21HT 10 - 14

Sixways
Att TBC
Sat 30 Jan 21, 3:00pm

Team news | Graham Kitchener returns to face champions

Lock Graham Kitchener will make his first appearance of the season for Warriors against reigning Gallagher Premiership champions Exeter Chiefs at Sixways on Saturday (kick-of 3.00pm).

Kitchener returned to Sixways in the summer of 2019 after a stint with Leicester Tigers but suffered a stress fracture of a foot in the latter stages of last season.

The injury has now healed but Kitchener’s comeback has been delayed by the postponement of the European Rugby Challenge Cup matches against Ospreys and Pau.

He comes straight into the starting XV against Exeter and will form a new second row pairing with Justin Clegg.

There is one other change to the side that started at Sale Sharks three weeks ago with Billy Searle, who has recovered from a calf injury, returning at fly-half.

Scotland international fly-half Duncan Weir is set to make his 50th appearance for the club off the bench. Weir is just 11 point short of 450 since he joined Warriors from Edinburgh three years ago.

South Africa international centre Francois Venter returns to the squad having recovered from illness, which forced him to miss three matches. Venter is joined among the replacements by hooker Beck Cutting.

Worcester Warriors | 15 Chris Pennell, 14 Perry Humphreys, 13 Oli Morris, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Nick David, 10 Billy Searle, 9 Francois Hougaard, 1 Ethan Waller, 2 Niall Annett, 3 Nick Schonert, 4 Justin Clegg, 5 Graham Kitchener, 6 Ted Hill (C), 7 Matt Kvesic, 8 Marco Mama.

Replacements | 16 Beck Cutting, 17 Marc Thomas, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 Anton Bresler, 20 Sam Lewis, 21 Gareth Simpson, 22 Duncan Weir 23 Francois Venter.

Unavailable | Conor Carey, Matt Cox, Tom Dodd, Noah Heward, Lewis Holsey,  Andrew Kitchener, Matt Moulds, Melani Nanai, GJ van Velze. International duty | Ollie Lawrence.

Exeter Chiefs | 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Olly Woodburn, 13 Ian Whitten, 12 Ollie Devoto, 11 Tom O’Flaherty, 10 Joe Simmonds, 9 Jack Maunder, 1 Alec Hepburn, 2 Jack Yeandle (C), 3 Tomas Francis, 4 Jonny Gray, 5 Sam Skinner, 6 Dave Ewers, 7 Richard Capstick, 8 Sam Simmonds.

Replacements | 16 Jack Innard, 17 James Kenny, 18 Marcus Street, 19 Don Armand, 20 Sean Lonsdale, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Harvey Skinner, 23 Tom Hendrickson.

Competition: Gallagher Premiership Rugby
Venue: Sixways
Referee: Thomas Foley
Game Type: Home
Fixture Round: 7
Attendance:
No. Name T C D P
15 Stuart Hogg
14 Olly Woodburn
13 Ian Whitten 1T
12 Ollie Devoto 1T
11 Tom O'Flaherty
10 Joe Simmonds 3C
9 Jack Maunder
1 Alec Hepburn
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Tomas Francis
4 Jonny Gray 1T
5 Sam Skinner
6 Dave Ewers
7 Richard Capstick
8 Sam Simmonds
Replacements
16 Jack Innard
17 James Kenny
18 Marcus Street
19 Don Armand
20 Sean Lonsdale
21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne
22 Harvey Skinner
23 Tom Hendrickson

SIGN UP TO THE WARRIORS WEEKLY NEWSLETTER