RUGBY UNION: SCOTLAND international Nick De Luca will captain a Wasps side full of familiar names for the trip to Exeter Chiefs in round three of the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
Guy Armitage, Brendan Macken, Craig Hampson, Tom Bristow, Will Rowlands, Marcus Garratt and Alex Rieder have all been included in Wasps’ starting line-up for the fixture at Sandy Park on Saturday.
Simon McIntyre is also included among the replacements, having made his first start since injury last weekend and is in need of game time.
The side also sees an opportunity for some of the club’s academy players, with Piers O’Conor, Tom Howe, Jacob Umaga, Will Stuart and Jack Willis all named to start.
Tom West, Ehize Ehizode, Tom Willis and Will Porter are also poised to make their impact from the bench against an Exeter side who have been winners and runners up in the competition in the last two seasons.
Koree Britton and Warren Searls are added to the squad with Britton lining up at hooker, and fly half / centre Searls providing back up on the bench. Carlo Festuccia is unavailable for selection for family reasons, Ashley Johnson covers hooker on the bench.
Ahead of the game, Backs Coach Lee Blackett said, “Trips to Sandy Park are always tough prospects and, up against a side who have serious pedigree in this competition and are likely to field a very strong side, we will have to be near our best on Saturday.
“This competition is always a great opportunity for some of our Academy players to mix it with some of the more regular first-team players and it’s good to see a number of those guys included in the squad for Saturday’s game.
“Saturday is a great opportunity for some of the guys who haven’t played as much as they would’ve liked to get some game time and let us see what they can do. It’s up to those guys to step up and force themselves into contention for the return to Aviva Premiership action.”
Wasps team to face Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park in round 3 of the Anglo Welsh Cup:
15. Piers O’Conor
14. Guy Armitage
13. Nick De Luca (c)
12. Brendan Macken
11. Tom Howe
10. Jacob Umaga
9. Craig Hampson
1. Tom Bristow
2. Koree Britton
3. Will Stuart
4. Will Rowlands
5. Marcus Garratt
6. Ali Bone
7. Jack Willis
8. Alex Rieder
16. Ashley Johnson
17. Tom West
18. Simon McIntyre
19. Ehize Ehizode
20. Tom Willis
21. Will Porter
22. Warren Seals
23. Owain James/ Joshua Hodson
