Tigers side for PREM Cup opener
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The matchday squad for Friday night’s PREM Rugby Cup fixture against Harlequins has been named.
Geoff Parling has made thirteen changes to the starting side who beat Saracens in Round 1, with Joseph Woodward retaining his place at inside centre and Gabriel Hamer-Webb on the wing.
Charlie Clare will captain the side in his first appearance of the Cup campaign.
The starting side includes a trio of debutants in Tarek Haffar, Osian Thomas, and Ryan Crowley, with the latter on loan from Chinnor RFC. The bench also includes three potential debutants in Monty Loggenberg, George Marsh, and summer-signing Billy Searle.
Ollie Allan, Joaquin Moro, Harry Palmer, Charlie Titcombe, and Will Wand - who were replacements in last weekend’s win at Mattioli Woods Welford Road - will start at Twickenham Stoop. Ale Loman, on loan from Nottingham Rugby, is also named to start.
Allan and Titcombe are the starting half-backs, with Wand partnering Woodward in the midfield. In the back three, Hamer-Webb and Crowley are the wings, and George Pearson is at full-back.
Moro and Palmer, who were among the seven debutants in Round 1, are joined by Joshua Manz in the back row, while Thomas is joined by the experienced Harry Wells in the second row. Up front, Haffar and Loman are the props, and Clare starts at hooker.
On the bench, Nicky Smith and Cameron Miell are in line for their first appearances of the season, while Finn Theobald-Thomas is retained from the victory over Saracens. Debutants Loggenberg and Marsh are the remaining forwards.
Tom Whiteley, Searle, and Tom Threlfall are the backs included among the replacements.
STARTING XV
15 George Pearson [5]
14 Gabriel Hamer-Webb [1]
13 Will Wand [12]
12 Joseph Woodward [34]
11 Ryan Crowley **
10 Charlie Titcombe [1]
9 Ollie Allan [3]
1 Tarek Haffar *
2 Charlie Clare (c) [124]
3 Ale Loman [2] **
4 Harry Wells [217]
5 Osian Thomas *
6 Harry Palmer [1]
7 Joshua Manz [9]
8 Joaquin Moro [1]
REPLACEMENTS
16 Finn Theobald-Thomas [18]
17 Nicky Smith [24]
18 Cameron Miell [2]
19 Monty Loggenberg *
20 George Marsh *
21 Tom Whiteley [41]
22 Billy Searle *
23 Tom Threlfall [3]
* Leicester Tigers debut
** Loan player
