Gloucester Rugby have named their sides for two weekend games against Northampton Saints in the Gallagher Premiership and Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership Rugby Cup.
In the Premiership team, Jack Singleton comes in at hooker, with Santiago Socino dropping to the bench. Either side of him, Val Rapava-Ruskin and Fraser Balmain remain as the props. Freddie Clarke and Matias Alemanno maintain their places in the boiler house.
The back-row of Ruan Ackerman, Ben Morgan and captain Lewis Ludlow, is also the same as it was last weekend.
Stephen Varney makes his first league start of the season at scrum-half and Santiago Carreras starts at fly-half once again.
In the centre, Seb Atkinson makes his Gallagher Premiership debut for the Cherry & Whites. He’s partnered with Scotland international Chris Harris.
In the back three, Jonny May returns on the wing after being away for England in the Autumn. Louis Rees-Zammit and Lloyd Evans complete the team.
Santiago Socino switches out of the starting XV for Singleton. Harry Elrington, Ciaran Knight, Cam Jordan and Jake Polledri all keep their places among the replacements from last Friday’s clash with Quins.
Charlie Chapman and Billy Twelvetrees also both started on Friday, they cover the backs on the bench alongside Alex Hearle.
Team News v Saints
15. Lloyd Evans*
14. Louis Rees-Zammit*
13. Chris Harris
12. Seb Atkinson (GP debut for Gloucester Rugby)
11. Jonny May*
10. Santiago Carreras
9. Stephen Varney*
1. Val Rapava-Ruskin
2. Jack Singleton
3. Fraser Balmain
4. Freddie Clarke*
5. Matias Alemanno
6. Ruan Ackermann
7. Lewis Ludlow* (C)
8. Ben Morgan
16. Santiago Socino
17. Harry Elrington
18. Ciaran Knight*
19. Cam Jordan*
20. Jake Polledri*
21. Charlie Chapman*
22. Billy Twelvetrees
23. Alex Hearle
*Denotes academy graduate.
In the Premiership Cup on Sunday, Seville and Seb Blake start alongside experienced Kirill Gotovtsev in the front-row with Andrew Davidson and Arthur Clark behind them in the second-row.
In the back-row, Freddie Thomas starts on the blind-side with Jack Clement on the open side. Clement is our ambassador for the RPA’s Restart Round this week, you can read more about that here.
Jack Bartlett starts at number 8.
Scrum-half Ben Meehan has been given the captaincy for the game. Defence coach Dom Waldouck has been impressed with the Aussie’s leadership this week.
He said: “He’s a player that leads by example with his performance and he’s spoken really well so we’re excited to see him lead this week.”
He’s one of four players in the back line that have had Gallagher Premiership minutes this season, along with fly-half George Barton, centre Jack Reeves and wing Jake Morris.
Morgan Adderly-Jones partners Reeves in the centre.
Alex Morgan returns from injury to start on the wing, and Josh Hathaway starts at full back.
Finn Theobald-Thomas is set to make his first appearance off the bench the Cherry & Whites after signing from Worcester. He is joined by; Archie McArthur, Bryan O’Connor, Danny Eite, Rob Nixon, Matty Jones, Morgan Adderly-Jones and Kyle Moyle on the bench.
Team News v Exeter
15. Josh Hathaway*
14. Alex Morgan*
13. Jack Reeves*
12. Morgan Adderly-Jones*
11. Jake Morris*
10. George Barton*
9. Ben Meehan (C)
1. Alex Seville*
2. Seb Blake*
3. Kirill Gotovtsev
4. Andrew Davidson
5. Arthur Clark*
6. Freddie Thomas*
7. Jack Clement*
8. Jack Bartlett*
16. Finn Theobald-Thomas*
17. Archie McArthur*
18. Bryan O’Connor*
19. Danny Eite*
20. Rob Nixon*
21. Matty Jones*
22. Tom Riman*
23. Kyle Moyle
*Denotes academy player or graduate
