After giving 22 players their Ampthill debuts in the two pre-season games with Bedford Blues, Head Coach Paul Turner names fourteen Championship debutants for the visit of Doncaster Knights on Sunday.
Following his Man of the Match performance two weeks ago, Alex Humfrey starts on the blindside in the only change to Ampthill’s starting pack from last weekend. Vice-Captain Sam Hudson moves to eight with Devante Onojaife among the replacements. Saracens Harvey Beaton and Wasps Alex Pleasants also start on the bench.
Louis Grimoldby will captain the side again this season with Matt Marsh getting the starting nine jersey this week. Scarlets’ Joe Roberts partners Jarryd Sage in the Centres whilst a back three of Sutherland, Brown and Hudson will need to be at their defensive best against one of the title favourites.
Sunday’s game Kicks Off at 1pm and is available on a Livestream through the RFU at
https://www.championshiprugby.co.uk/live-streams
The full squad
15 Hudson, Tom 16 Blackmore, Syd
14 Brown, Will 17 Pleasants, Alex
13 Roberts, Joe 18 Beaton, Harvey
12 Sage, Jarryd 19 Johnson, Billy
11 Sutherland, Spencer 20 Onojaife, Devante
10 Grimoldby, Louis (Capt) 21 Law, Jonny
9 Marsh, Matt 22 Bennett, Russell
1 Flynn, James 23 Hallett, Josh
2 Ward, Dave
3 Lutui, Aleki
4 Beckett, Charlie
5 Jones, Llewelyn
6 Humfrey, Alex
7 Bercis, Joe
8 Hudson, Sam
Paul Turner comments “The overall objective for the season is to be competitive but with two of the favourites for the Championship title in the first two rounds with Doncaster visiting Dillingham Park tomorrow followed by Ealing away next weekend it’s safe to say we haven’t been given an easy start.
That said the two games against a strong Bedford Blues were a valuable exercise and lots of the boys made a strong challenge to start against the Knights tomorrow. We have fourteen Championship debutants tomorrow who are looking forward to the challenge. Come on you A’s!”
