Ampthill head to Butts Park Arena in Round 7 of Champ Rugby to face old friends Coventry Rugby and looking to repeat last season’s win on the road.
Head Coach Dave Ward makes six changes from the team who faced Ealing last time out. The front row in unchanged for the fifth successive game with Harrison Courtney at loosehead, Seb Smith and hooker and Callum Norrie at tighthead. Scottish U20 lock Jake Parkinson partners Tongan Justin Matalele in the engine room this week whilst in the back row Ollie Mullarkey starts on the blindside, summer signing Harrison Dakin makes his first start on the openside Flanker and Tino Mapapalangi reverts to the eight berth.
In the back division, Efan Jones and Louis Grimoldby start again in the halfbacks, captain Fraser Strachan is reunited with the returning Sione Va’enuku in midfield whilst a back three of Sam Kildunne, Oscar Wilson and Josh Barton will look to control territory from the backfield.
Academy graduate Aaron Gear will look to make his Championship debut from the bench – testament to the work her has put in this season.
1 Harrison Courtney 2 Seb Smith 3 Callum Norrie 4 Jake Parkinson 5 Justin Mataele 6 Ollie Mullarkey 7. Harrison Dakin 8. Tino Mapapalangi 9. Efan Jones 10. Louis Grimoldby 11. Sam Kildunne 12. Fraser Strachan (c) 13. Sione Vaenuku 14. Oscar Wilson 15. Josh Barton
16 James Isaacs 17 Rich Barrington 18 Jevaughn Warren 19 Kima Ravuvu 20 Aaron Gear 21 Alex Davies 22 Joe Heslop 23 Matt Salisbury