By John Wilkinson COVENTRY Rugby take a squad of 44 players to Leicester Lions for tomorrow’s opening pre-season game against their National League Two North hosts.
The game will be played in the normal format of two 40-minute halves with Phil Boulton captaining Cov for the first period and Luke Narraway taking over the role for the second half.
After seven weeks of intensive training, anticipation is high throughout the camp as the final countdown to the opening league game at Hull Ionians begins.
“We are all excited to get into the latter stages of our pre-season schedule with a series of some really challenging competitive fixture,” said director of rugby Rowland Winter.
“It’s a great opportunity to play a strong side like Leicester Lions away from home and begin to fine tune all the components of our game play under pressure.
“I am expecting to see a performance that can lay the foundations for the month ahead, and give us a base to build on as we improve each week going forward towards the league season.”
On the injury front, George Oram and Max Trimble are rested with slight knocks. Cliffie Hodgson is away, and new signing Waita Setu is due to arrive early next week.
Kick-off at TDMP Park (Lutterworth Road, Blaby) is 7.30pm.
COVENTRY
First half: 15 James Stokes, 14 Rob Knox, 13 Alex Grove, 12 Tom Wheatcroft, 11 James Neal, 10 Will Maisey, 9 Dave Brazier, 1 Andy Brown, 2 Scott Tolmie, 3 Phil Boulton (captain), 4 Nile Dacres, 5 Tom Poole, 6 Brett Daynes, 7 Olly Povoas, 8 Latu Makaafi.
Replacements: 16 Nathanael Titchard-Jones, 17 Matt Price, 18 Luc Jeannot, 19 Mike Ryan, 20 Sam McNulty, 21 Tom Price, 22 Connor Adams, 23 Ben Palmer, 24 Brendan Burke, 25 Max Titchener, 26 Joe Lane.
Phil Boulton
Second half: 15 Louis Roach, 14 Kwaku Asiedu, 13 Heath Stevens, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Anthony Matoto, 10 Tony Fenner, 9 Pete White, 1 Harry Morley, 2 Phil Nilsen, 3 Jimmy Litchfield, 4 Cameron Gray, 5 Tom Jubb, 6 Kailus Hutchinson, 7 Jack Preece, 8 Luke Narraway (captain).
Replacements: 16 Jake Byrne, 17 Willie Priestley, 18 Luc Jeannot, 19 Mike Ryan, 20 Sam McNulty, 21 Myles Hibbs, 22 Connor Adams, 23 Ben Palmer, 24 Brendan Burke, 25 Max Titchener, 26 Joe Lane.
