Harlequins have named their team for their pre-season opener against Bristol on Saturday.
Following a pre-season camp at Adidas’ headquarters in Germany, Summer signing Phil Swainston starts in the front row alongside Mark Lambert and Captain Dave Ward with Charlie Matthews and George Merrick in the second row.
Academy member Archie White is named at blindside flanker with Luke Wallace and Jack Clifford completing the back row.
READ MORE:
-
The 10 coolest rugby players in the world
-
The 30 best rugby players in the world 2017
-
The top 15 hardest men in rugby history
-
The 10 greatest fly-halves of all time
Charlie Mulchrone and Tim Swiel are named at half-backs with James Lang, fresh from Singha 7s action, and Alofa Alofa starting in the centres.
Tim Visser and Charlie Walker – who contributed 19 tries last season – take residency on either wing with Ross Chisholm completing the 15 at fullback.
Club captain James Horwill is named among the replacements alongside new signings Lewis Boyce, Josh McNulty and Ben Glynn.
Bill Harding – who played for Harlequins against the Maori All Blacks last November – starts as replacement hooker as a guest.
Confirming the squad for the pre-season encounter, Director of Rugby, John Kingston said: “Pre-season matches are all about getting match time under the belt and Saturday is that first opportunity to test out new combinations.
“The squad involved generally reflects players who have been back in training longer and features a number of our summer signings who I am excited to see play, alongside members of our Academy.
“It comes at the end of an intense week in Germany, where the squad have been working very hard with several double sessions per day. Playing a match on the back of such a programme is a challenge we are looking forward to with the start of the 2017/18 season in mind.”
Harlequins team to face Bristol Rugby
15. Ross Chisholm
14. Charlie Walker
13. Alofa Alofa
12. James Lang
11. Tim Visser
10. Tim Swiel
9. Charlie Mulchrone
1. Mark Lambert
2. Dave Ward (c)
3. Phil Swainston
4. George Merrick
5. Charlie Matthews
6. Archie White
7. Luke Wallace
8. Jack Clifford
Replacements