Bournville have included seven of their summer signings in the matchday squad for the National Two West opener against Devonport Services at Avery Fields on Saturday (2.30pm).
In the pack tighthead prop Chad Thorne will take his place in the front row alongside Bourns stalwarts James Burgoyne and James Weaver with openside flanker Adam Shaw and number eight Jasper Smith forming part of a new-look back-row alongside Jonjo Fanning who will start on the blindside flank.
Experienced centre Rob Knox will partner Sam Grimshaw with James Mann and Freddie Morgan at half-back. Although Mann and Morgan are newcomers to Bournville they know each other’s game very well having played together at Dudley Kingswinford last season.
Wales Sevens international Joe Jenkins has been named among the replacements having joined Bournville from Edinburgh club Boroughmuir.
Although Plymouth-based Devonport Services are newcomers to the National Leagues having been promoted as champions of Regional One South West, they are a club with a long and illustrious history.
Before leagues were introduced in 1987, they were a senior club with a strong fixture list and a proud record of producing international – 37 have been capped while at The Rectory – county and services representative players.
Devonport will arrive at Avery Fields as something of an unknown quantity but they lost only three of their 22 league matches last season to deny Barnstaple an immediate return to National Two West following their relegation in April 2023.
Bournville’s selection for Saturday’s match has posed some welcome problems for the coaching team with fierce competition for places among the 14 newcomers and 28 members of last season’s squad who were re-signed.
But the admission of Bournville Blues to the RFU Leagues for the first team should increase and improve the opportunities to provide all members of the squad with regular competitive rugby.
The Blues open their Counties Midlands Three West (South) campaign with a Friday Night Lights match against old adversaries Woodrush who are based at Forhill on the southern outskirts of Birmingham.
The Blues side includes three summer signings in wing Josh Tutt, wing Dallas Ororo and number eight Kier Henderson with all members of the squad having featured at some stage in the pre-season matches against Bromsgrove, Sheffield Tigers and Birmingham & Solihull.
Bournville | 15 Owen Williams; 14 Alex Evans, 13 Rob Knox, 12 Sam Grimshaw, 11 Nathan Decalmer; 10 James Mann, 9 Freddie Morgan; 1 James Burgoyne, 2 James Weaver, 3 Chad Thorne, 4 Ben O’Sullivan, 5 Ben Meakin (C), 6 Jonjo Fanning, 7 Adam Shaw, 8 Jasper Smith.
Replacements | 16 Jake Bailey, 17 Stefan Thorp, 18 Nick Murphy, 19 Jacob Fewtrell, 20 Joe Jenkins.
Bournville Blues | 15 Niall Demel; 14 Josh Tutt, 13 Elliot Christie, 12 Mark Coulson, 11 Dallas Ororo; 10 Joe Nellany, 9 Jay West; 1 Kurtis Payne, 2 Harry Scarlett, 3 Sean Kimberley, 4 Harry Dawson, 5 Harry Belcher, 6 Lewis Hall, 7 Jamie Avery, 8 Kier Henderson.
Replacements: 16 Bhairaj Rai, 17 Will Taylor, 18 Eddie Wiggins, 19 Ben Harper, 20 George Ayliffe.
