London Scottish hand first competitive starts to three players on Saturday evening, 7pm kick-off, when they host Connacht Eagles at Richmond Athletic Ground in Round Four of the B&I Cup.

Harlequins dual-registered centre Harry Sloan is named in midfield with former Wales under-18s cap Ben Calder earning a start at scrum-half.

Australian trialist Matt Hawke gets the chance to impress on the wing having joined the Club last week in a youthful looking side which also sees Academy flanker Alex Brown start alongside James Chisholm and Chris Walker in the back-row.

Fly-half Dan Newton will skipper the side for the first time. 

London Scottish Director of Rugby, Mike Friday, said: “The B&I Cup has not gone our way in what is a very tough pool but these next three weeks will give some players on the fringes an opportunity to stake a claim for a first team jersey moving into the next round of league games.

“Resources have been tested in the first part of the campaign and this time will also allow us to introduce some of the injured players back into the group which will further increase competition for places again.”

He continued: “We have the upmost respect for what is a very young Connacht side who did a job on us last month in Galway.

“They showed us what character is required sometimes to win matches but we have learnt from that game and when they come to Richmond they will be up against a much different London Scottish side.”

London Scottish side to play Connacht Eagles at Richmond Athletic Ground on Saturday, November 29, 7pm kick-off.

15, Peter Lydon, 14, Matt Hawke, 13, Chris Auld, 12, Harry Sloan, 11, Miles Mantella, 10, Dan Newton, 9, Ben Calder, 1, Mark Lilley, 2, Todd Gleave, 3, Max Maidment, 4, Tai Tuisamoa, 5, Gregor Gillanders, 6, Alex Brown, 7, Chris Walker, 8, James Chisholm.

Replacements: 16, Lovejoy Chawatama, 17, David Cherry, 18, Stewart Maguire, 19, Neil Best, 20, Mark Bright, 21, Matt Heeks, 22, Alec Coombes.