TOM Hitchcock returns to Coventry Rugby’s starting line-up for a mouth-watering top-of-the-table clash against Ealing Trailfinders this weekend.
Hitchcock will wear his customary no.12 shirt to take on his former club after departing Ealing for Butts Park Arena in February.
Daf Tiueti reverts to outside centre with top try-scorer Ryan Hutler, who is now Cov’s only ever-present in the starting line-up this term, on the right wing.
Liam Richman who scored all 14 of Coventry’s points in last weekend’s defeat at Cornish Pirates from full back switches back to his preferred role at fly half with Charlie Robson returning to the no.15 shirt.
With Josh Barton named at scrum-half this means only left winger Jimmy Martin of last week’s starting back-line begins round nine in the same position occupied at the start of Coventry’s 47-14 defeat in Penzance.
Coventry’s coaching group also make changes in all three rows of the pack for Ealing’s visit.
With Matt Johnson joining Billy Nairau on the sidelines through injury, experienced Glasgow Accies tighthead Steven Longwell comes into Cov’s front row.
Longwell who was part of the Jersey squad that lifted the Championship title in 2022 has also enjoyed a spell in the USA as part of Washington-based MLR outfit Old Glory.
Senitiki Nayalo partners Obinna Nkwocha in the second row with Matt Kvesic who has recovered from illness named to pack down at no.8.
For the first time this season, Alex Rae opts for three backs on the replacements bench. David Opoku and Tommy Mathews are joined by 21-year-old local product Fin Ogden who is in line to make his second appearance of the season at scrum-half.
Cov again also name four of the forwards who arrived from the sidelines against the Pirates to take similar roles against this week’s visitors with experienced lock James Tyas completing the bench.
Coventry head coach Rae said: “Ealing are playing pretty well at the moment and as we saw with their result against Cambridge last week are putting teams to bed pretty easily.
“They’re the league champions and they’re coming to town for a Christmas fixture which seems likely to be a sell-out.
“It’s also first playing second so it has all the ingredients to be a massive, really exciting occasion.
“Over the last five or six fixtures against Ealing we’ve had some really good ding dongs and we’re looking for a good performance with a fast start that gets the crowd involved.
“Our home games seem to be turning into really big events for the city and with the Sky Blues also being away on Saturday it should be a great occasion.”
Coventry Rugby’s line-up vs Ealing Trailfinders
Coventry: Charlie Robson; Ryan Hutler, Daf-Rhys Tiueti, Tom Hitchcock, Jimmy Martin; Liam Richman, Josh Barton; Toby Trinder, Jordon Poole, Steven Longwell; Senitiki Nayalo, Obinna Nkwocha; Aaron Hinkley, Tom Ball, Matt Kvesic
Replacements: Will Biggs, Jevaughn Warren, Eliot Salt, James Tyas, Chester Owen, Fin Ogden, Tommy Mathews, David Opoku
Coventry host Ealing on Saturday, December 21 with kick-off at 3pm at Butts Park Arena.
