By Paul Smith
Coventry start 150th season with Leicester Lions pleasant
Coventry Rugby boss Alex Rae fingers debuts to a variety of summer season signings in tomorrow’s pipe opener towards Leicester Lions (Butts Park Area, 3pm kick off).
The blue-and-whites purpose to offer sport time to most of their squad throughout a contest which will probably be performed over 80 minutes with the hosts fielding virtually fully totally different line-ups for every half.
Former England worldwide flanker Matt Kvesic makes his first Cov begin through the opening 40 minutes the place he’s a part of a pack that features ex-Gloucester no.8 Jack Bartlett plus latest entrance 5 signings Elliot Chilvers and Rhys Anstey.
Behind the scrum Cov start their season with a variety of final season’s backline regulars together with centres Lucas Titherington and Will Wand whereas the pacy Jimmy Martin wears the no.11 shirt.
The beginning aspect will probably be skippered by hooker Jordon Poole who then passes the armband to prop Toby Trinder after the break.
Trinder is joined within the entrance row by new tight head Elliot Salt whereas former Leicester academy back-rower Chester Owen wears the no.6 shirt on his Cov debut.
A pacy again three options ex-Jersey speedster Ryan Hutler on the fitting wing whereas Will Rigg and Ollie Betteridge mix in midfield.
Rae mentioned the squad is determined to play after a protracted pre-season which started in early June.
“There’s solely a lot coaching you need to do and we’re all actually excited to get again taking part in in entrance of the Cov followers,” he mentioned.
“I’m actually trying ahead to seeing the brand new lads pull on a Cov shirt for the primary time as that’s all the time a particular second.
“Now we have virtually everybody concerned aside from Will Chudley who’s match however will play subsequent week towards Moseley whereas Pat Pellegrini and Paddy Ryan should not again from Tonga and the USA but.
“Which means we’re simply lacking Obinna Nkwocha who has a minor hamstring pressure, whereas Will Biggs is about 4 weeks from health with an ankle damage and Harry Seward has a longer-term concussion.
“Leicester Lions have carried out rather well to work their method via the leagues to Nationwide One they usually’ll give us simply the type of take a look at we’re on the lookout for right now of yr.”
Leicester Lions arrive on the Butts on the again of a profitable 2022/23 marketing campaign which noticed them promoted to Nationwide One because the inaugural winners of Nationwide Two West.
In a outstanding season Gareth Collins’ crew misplaced solely as soon as and gained their final 21 matches consecutively to complete with 122 factors from a doable 130.
Their 26-strong squad might embrace former Cov fly half Dan Lewis though final season’s main Nationwide Two West try-scorer Devon Fixed and prolific kicker Ben Younger are each not with the membership.
Coventry first half crew: Wilson; Opoku, Wand, Titherington, Martin; Mitchell, Ogden; Chilvers, Poole ©, Andrews; Anstey, Smith; Stone, Kvesic, Bartlett.
Coventry second half crew: James; Hutler, Rigg, Betteridge, Martin/Opoku (shared); Mannion, Lane; Trinder ©, Ma’asi, Salt; Anstey/Smith (shared), Tyas; Owen, Ball, Nayalo.
Coventry vs Leicester Lions:
Saturday August 19th at 3pm on the Butts Park Area
Get your tickets right here.
Included with Season Membership
Adults £15 (standing or seated)
U16 £3
All tickets embrace entry to the inaugural Coventry Rugby Beer Pageant
Buy a season membership by visiting https://www.coventryrugby.co.uk/membership/