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LCpl Semesa Rokoduguni (Scots DG) has a daunting trip across the Irish Sea this weekend with his Bath team mates.

Having not been able to turn promising performances into results in the Premiership, Bath now face the prospect of taking on Leinster at the Aviva Stadium in their Champions Cup opener on Saturday afternoon (KO 1515).

LCpl Rokoduguni has played in Bath’s last five Premiership matches, and he will be up against James Lowe on Saturday, one of seven Irish internationals who beat the All Blacks in the recent Autumn Internationals.

Leinster and Bath have met 11 times in European competition, with the Dubliners winning nine, and the hosts also sit top of the United Rugby Championship table.

Saturday’s match is being covered live on BT Sport.

Cpl Lewis Bean (Rifles) is also in European action this weekend and facing a challenging trip, Glasgow Warriors on the road to La Rochelle on Sunday (KO 1515).

Glasgow got back to winning ways against the Dragons last weekend, but this weekend is a marked step up in the calibre of the opposition, La Rochelle having reached last season’s Champions Cup final and with a collective score of 101-17 from their last three home matches.

However Glasgow did the double over the Top 14 outfit in 2019/20 and have won three of their last four away matches against French opposition.

Sunday’s match is live on BT Sport.

In the Championship LCpl Lloyd Wheeldon (3 Para) retains his place on the Doncaster bench for the Knights’ home game against Nottingham on Saturday (KO 1430).

Doncaster’s loss away at Cornish Pirates last Sunday was their first reverse since the beginning of October, and they remain unbeaten at Castle Park. The Knights’ last outing on home turf was the eye-catching win over table-toppers Ealing, and nothing short of a repeat this weekend is needed as they look to maintain pressure on the top three.

Meanwhile Nottingham have not played since their heavy defeat at Bedford a fortnight ago, their scheduled home match last weekend being postponed due to Covid protocols, and they have not won on the road this season.

There is one Army player in the Premier 15s, Capt Gemma Rowland (RA) returning to her usual position of centre as Wasps host DMP Durham Sharks at Twyford Avenue on Saturday lunchtime (KO 1330).

Capt Rowland has played fly half and full back so far this campaign, but switches into the 12 shirt for the game against the league’s bottom club. DMP have the unenviable record of no wins from their six matches and a points difference of -421, while Wasps are well in the hunt for another semi-final spot and have not had their colours downed on home turf since opening day back in September.

Words © New Dogs, Old Tricks.  Header Image © Army v Navy Match – Andrew Fosker.  Featured Image © Army v Navy Match – Lee Crabb

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