London Scottish are playing Jersey back to back for two consecutive weeks in the British and Irish Cup with the first leg being held at Stade Santander International across the channel this weekend.
Scottish have taken the opportunity to field some of the wider playing squad in this B&I Cup fixture. Three players make their first start for London Scottish.
Player-Coach Jake Sharp will be taking control of the side this week with Jonathan Mills and Dave Morris as Assistant Coaches.
Prop Ewan McQuillin returns to the starting lineup and joins Army Hooker Pete Austin and Ben Onyeama Christie in the front row.
Dom McGeekie returns from a foot injury to partner Gregor Gillanders in the second row. Max Berry starts at blindside with Matt Marley on the openside. Danny Kenny made his return from a 3 game suspension against Richmond last weekend from the bench, but starts at number eight on Saturday.
It’s a new half back combination for the Scots with Josh Barton at scrum half and London Irish academy player Tom Parton at 10. Parton was part of the England Under 20 side who made the final of the Junior World Cup this past summer. He is an electric back who will be looking to open up the Jersey defence.
Fraser Lyle starts in the centres and is partnered by Alec Coombes. Connor Hayhow returns on one wing after recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in the Championship game versus Ealing Trailfinders.
The other two members of the back three make their first starts for Scottish. Newcastle Univeristy Alumni Joe Luca Smith starts on the left wing and Serviceman Owain Davies is at full back.
Dan George, Phil Cringle and Gareth Smith are the front row replacements. Smith is the third active serviceman named in the side along with Davies and Austin. Canadian International Kyle Baillie is also named amongst the replacements.
Back rower Matt Eliet returns to the ground where he suffered his minor MCL injury earlier this season. Ed Hoadley is the srcum half replacement and Craig Holland will cover the backs.
London Scottish: 1) Ben Onyeama Christie 2) Pete Austin 3) Ewan McQuillin 4) Dom McGeekie 5) Gregor Gillanders 6) Max Berry 7) Matt Marley 8) Danny Kenny ©;
9) Josh Barton 10) Tom Parton 11) Joe Luca Smith 12) Fraser Lyle 13) Alec Coombes 14) Connor Hayhow 15) Owain Davies
Replacements: 16) Dan George 17) Gareth Smith 18) Phil Cringle 19) Kyle Baillie20) Matt Eliet 21) Ed Hoadley 22) Craig Holland
