HARLEQUINS SQUAD: PREMIERSHIP RUGBY CUP, ROUND 4 V SARACENS (A)Friday, 11th October 2019 @ 12:00
HARLEQUINS HAS ANNOUNCED ITS SQUAD FOR THE DERBY DAY CLASH AGAINST SARACENS, IN ROUND 4 OF THE PREMIERSHIP RUGBY CUP.Included in the 23 to face London rivals Saracens is Club Captain Chris Robshaw who will play alongside a host of his teammates with international experience including Mike Brown, Scott Baldwin and Martin Landajo.
Making his first start for the Club is South African international Travis Ismaiel, who starts on the wing on Saturday. This week’s Game Changers include returning hooker Elia Elia, who has regained full fitness from a hamstring injury and the exciting debutant Luke Northmore, who has followed in the footsteps of Alex Dombrandt, having signed for Harlequins from Cardiff Metropolitan University. The match 23 also sees young lock Hugh Tizard get his first involvement in a match squad following his man of the match performance for London Scottish last Friday night.
Looking ahead to this final Premiership Rugby Cup fixture ahead of the start of the Gallagher Premiership season, Harlequins’ Head of Rugby Paul Gustard said: “We have been pretty pleased with our performances so far in the Premiership Rugby Cup. Naturally when you rotate squads this much there will be learnings from each match, but it’s been important for us to ensure everyone gets the opportunity to play. I am delighted that Luke has recovered from injury and gets an opportunity to play and, of course, young Tizz who deservedly gets a chance to play for his home club and push the senior locks for more regular inclusion.
“We have seen evidence in progression in our game on both sides of the ball. I was particularly pleased with the performance of our set piece at the weekend, which is a good reflection of the quality of players we have and the continuing development and growth in Adam Jones, our forwards coach.
“We have picked a team to test a few new combinations and we are excited about the opportunity to represent the Club against our friends from up the road. Playing Saracens is always a tremendous challenge with the quality in their entire squad and the tactical acumen of their coaching group. We embrace the contest that awaits us and look forward to taking the next step as a group.”
Harlequins Starting XV:
1 Nick Auterac (13)
2 Scott Baldwin (1)
3 Will Collier (153)
4 Dino Lamb (18)
5 Glen Young (2)
6 Chris Robshaw (Captain) (276)
7 Will Evans (2)
8 Tom Lawday (1)
9 Martin Landajo (2)
10 Marcus Smith (60)
11 Gabriel Ibitoye (21)
12 Francis Saili (26)
13 James Lang (50)
14 Travis Ismaiel (2)
15 Mike Brown (323)
Game Changers:
16 Elia Elia (37)
17 Mark Lambert (241)
18 Simon Kerrod (3)
19 Hugh Tizard (0)
20 Alex Dombrandt (26)
21 Niall Saunders (8 )
22 Luke Northmore (0)
23 Ross Chisholm (105)
Not considered for selection:
Lennox Anyanwu
Harry Barlow
Renaldo Bothma
James Bourton
Rob Buchanan
Danny Care
James Chisholm
Jack Clifford
Max Crumpton
Nathan Earle
Toby Freeman
Santiago Garcia Botta
George Hammond
George Head
Brett Herron
Luke James
Jack Kenningham
Stephan Lewies
Louis Lynagh
Joe Marchant
Aaron Morris
Charlie Mulchrone
Dylan Munro
Cadan Murley
Jack Musk
Sam Riley
Kieran Sassone
Phil Swainston
Ben Tapuai
Matt Symons
Lloyd Wheeldon
Archie White
Rugby World Cup:
Michele Campagnaro
Tevita Cavubati
Vereniki Goneva
Semi Kunatani
Paul Lasike
Joe Marler
Kyle Sinckler