Rotherham Titans embark on the new National One season with a tricky opener against one of the leading lights in the division, when they travel to The Rock to take on Rosslyn Park this Saturday; kick-off is 3pm.
Park are many pundits choice to be at the sharp end of the table come the business end of the season and with an array of quality recruits brought in during the summer, it’s easy to see why they are many people’s choice to top the pile.
Rotherham also reshuffled their squad during the off-season, but crucially they retained a dozen of their squad to use as a solid base to build on for 2019/20.
Going into the opener Titans starting XV consists of nine debutants, with four along the back line and five in the pack.
The new recruits across the backline are at full back, dual-registered from Wasps, Tom Bacon, on the wing Ben Robbins (Watsonians), in the centre Tom Bullough (Carnegie) and at fly half Sam Hollingsworth (Moseley).
The five new players starting in the pack are Titans ‘old boy’ Toby Williams (Doncaster) at loose head, Harry Newborn (Carnegie) at hooker, Elliott Ward (Carnegie) in the second row, Lewis Wilson (Carnegie) at blindside and Anthony Maka (Marlborough) at number 8.
Joining them from last tem as starters are, along the backline Jamie Cooke (centre), Dan Leake (wing) and Connor Dever (scrum half). Whilst up front Will Dennis (tight head), Kieran Frost (lock) and Zak Poole (open side) complete the 15.
Titans will hope their newly assembled squad can quickly find their feet in this toughest of divisions, as they look to get something from one of the most challenging contest of the season.
Titans: 15 Tom Bacon, 14 Ben Robbins, 13 Jamie Cooke, 12 Tom Bullough, 11 Dan Leake, 10 Sam Hollingsworth, 9 Connor Dever, 1 Toby Williams, 2 Harry Newborn, 3 Will Dennis, 4 Elliott Ward, 5 Kieran Frost, 6 Lewis Wilson, 7 Zak Poole (Capt.), 8 Anthony Maka.
Replacements: 16 Agustin Defelitto, 17 Harry Whitfield, 18 Reece Ward, 19 Keifer Laxton, 20 Morgan Bunting.
