Gnr Senitiki Nayalo (RA) makes a welcome return to action in the Championship to line up for Coventry’s Round 10 home clash with Bedford Blues (KO 15:00).
Gnr Nayalo has not been seen on the field since leaving the away loss to Ampthill in Round 2. In his absence Coventry’s campaign has been fitful, and the blue and whites start tomorrow’s game sitting ninth in the table.
The Fijian starts at number eight, and if he can quickly regain his try scoring form from last season then it will be a timely early Christmas present for the rest of the team.
Another team looking to improve is Bath, for whom LCpl Semesa Rokoduguni (Scots DG) starts on the wing in their trip to Northampton on Saturday (KO 15:00).
Bath have been putting in promising performances so far this season, but have not been able to turn them into Premiership wins, not least in last Friday’s frustrating home loss to Exeter Chiefs.
Danny Cipriani’s selection at fly half shows Bath’s intent to play, and LCpl Rokoduguni will have to both be on the former England player’s wavelength and alert to the danger posed by the Saints, who are one of the Premiership’s most positive-minded teams.
Winless in 2021/22 they may be, but Bath have been Northampton’s bogey team in recent seasons, coming out on top in their last four matches against the Saints.
North of the border Cpl Lewis Bean (Rifles) re-joins the Glasgow match day 23 as the Warriors welcome the Dragons to Scotstoun on Saturday evening (KO 19:35).
Cpl Bean missed his first United Rugby Championship match of the season last weekend, having to watch from afar as Glasgow went down to a one-point defeat away to Benetton Treviso. That was the Warriors’ second loss in a row, and the Scottish outfit will need to return to the form which saw them win three on the trot in October.
They will also be hoping for a repeat of their last outing against the Dragons which ended in a maximum haul of league points in May.
Saturday’s match is live on Premier Sports 1.
The final professional men’s match to include Army representation comes at the Mennaye Field on Sunday afternoon, where LCpl Lloyd Wheeldon (Para) is on the Doncaster Knights bench for their top-four clash with the Cornish Pirates.
LCpl Wheeldon made his debut off the bench in last weekend’s stunning win over table-topping Ealing Trailfinders, and the Knights will have to maintain that attitude and approach against the Pirates, who have not been beaten on home turf this season and have an identical win-loss record as Doncaster (six wins, two losses).
Sunday’s match kicks off at 14:30, with live coverage via 247.tv/champsrugby
In the women’s game Bdr Bethan Dainton (RA) and Sgt Jade Mullen (AGC (SPS)) return from the international break to be named in the Harlequins match day squad for their Premier 15s home match against DMP Durham Sharks on Saturday (KO 15:00).
Harlequins got back on track with a solid win over Sale Sharks last time out, while DMP have yet to record a win in the league this season. The Londoners will certainly be aiming for a bonus point win to put some pressure on Bristol and Saracens at the top of the table, with those two teams going head-to-head on Saturday lunchtime.
Finally, Capt Gemma Rowland (RA) retains her spot at full back for Wasps as they welcome Sale to Twyford Avenue.
Wasps won their last home match against Gloucester-Hartpury on October 10th, and know that nothing short of a repeat performance is needed if they are to get some momentum going heading into the Christmas period.
Another familiar face in the Wasps squad is SSgt Sarah Mitchelson (RLC), who is pulling on her boots since last season’s semi-finals.
Words © New Dogs, Old Tricks. Header and Featured Image © Alligin Photography, Scrumpix
