SENITIKI NAYALO, Joe Cokanasiga and Tom Parton are all set to make their London Irish debuts in tomorrow’s British and Irish Cup clash with Ospreys Premiership Select (2.30pm).
Sitting top of the Championship after six matches, Exiles director of rugby Nick Kennedy has opted to shuffle his pack for the cup with a completely different 15 starting to that which beat London Welsh 35-12 last weekend.
Fijian back-row Nayalo, 25, signed permanent terms with the club this week after a successful trial spell with the club and plays at number eight while academy products Cokanasiga and Parton start on either wing.
Harry Elrington and Jason Harris-Wright will make their first Exiles starts having appeared off the bench this season while Greig Tonks and Tom Fowlie are among the others to come back in.
Conor Gilsenan will captain the side.
“It’s going to be a big test against a quality Ospreys side,” said assistant coach Clark Laidlaw.
“But we are relishing the challenge and I’m looking forward to seeing the full range of our squad in action.
“We have three lads making their debuts as well as a number of players getting their chance of game time, so they will be itching to take full advantage of their opportunity.
“We have made a good start to the season and it’s important that we continue to build momentum in the British and Irish Cup ahead of a return to league action in a fortnight.”
LONDON IRISH XV: Ransom, Parton, Fowlie, Neal, Cokanasiga, Tonks, Allinson, Elrington, Harris-Wright, Hoskins, Lloyd, Sexton, Northcote-Green, Gilsenan (c), Nayalo.
Reps: Gleave, Palframan, Cooke, Coman, Murphy, Geraghty, Williams.
