Wing Dan Rundle will make his first competitive start for Bournville in Saturday’s National Two West match against Macclesfield at Priory Park (3pm).
Rundle arrived at Avery Fields in the summer from Rotherham Titans having helped them win the National Two North title last season.
The former Coventry and Stourbridge flyer appeared in the pre-season match against Bridgend Ravens three weeks ago but suffered a slight calf muscle tear which ruled him out of the match at Sheffield Tigers the following and last week’s league opener against Devonport Services.
He comes into the side at Macclesfield as one five changes to the starting XV with Alex Evans, who started against Devonport, named among the replacements.
Fly-half James Mann is ruled out by the head injury he sustained last week so Jacob Fewtrell starts with Wales Sevens international Joe Jenkins, who came off the bench last week, forming a new centre pairing with Sam Grimshaw with Rob Knox moving to full-back in place of the unavailable Owen Williams.
In the pack, Jake Bailey starts at hooker in place of James Weaver with lock Harry Dawson called up for his seasonal debut in place of the unavailable Ben O’Sullivan and Nick Murphy.
Also starting is back-row forward Louis Mifsud who is set for his first competitive appearance since he was capped by Malta against Cyprus in May.
Former Merthyr hooker Ben Rhodes is in line for his debut with fly-half Joe Nellany also called up after an impressive showing for Bournville Blues against Woodrush last week.
Saturday’s match will be the first meeting with Macclesfield in a competitive match although Bournville won a high-scoring pre-season friendly at Priory Park five years ago.
Bournville | 15 Rob Knox; 14 Dan Rundle, 13 Joe Jenkins, 12 Sam Grimshaw, 11 Nathan Decalmer; 10 Jacob Fewtrell, 9 Freddie Morgan; 1 James Burgoyne, 2 Jake Bailey, 3 Chad Thorne, 4 Harry Dawson, 5 Ben Meakin (C), Louis Mifsud, 7 Adam Shaw, 8 Jonjo Fanning.
Replacements | 16 Ben Rhodes, 17 Stefan Thorp, 18 Jasper Smith, 19 Joe Nellany, 20 Alex Evans.
*Former Esher centre Tom Mitchell, Bournville’s latest recruit, will make his club debut for the Blues in the Counties Midlands Three West (South) match against Pershore at Avery Fields on Saturday (3pm).
Mitchell turned up for training at Avery Fields last week having moved into the area and is a bonus addition to the squad.
He will start in a Blues squad fresh from a 48-5 win at Woodrush last week in their first-ever match in the RFU Leagues.
Chris Idehen will make his first appearance of the season in the back-row having recovered from a concussion which he suffered in training in the week before the first of the pre-season matches against Bromsgrove.
Rhys Williams, who was unavailable for the whole of the pre-season programme, will also make his seasonal debut at fly-half for the Blues.
Bournville Blues | 15 Josh Tutt; 14 Niall Demel, 13 Tom Mitchell, 12 Mark Coulson, 11 Dallas Ororo; 10 Rhys Williams, 9 George Ayliffe; 1 Sean Kimberley, 2 Harry Scarlett, 3 Kurtis Payne, 4 Kier Henderson, 5 Harry Belcher, 6 Lewis Hall, 7 Chris Idehen, 8 Will Taylor.
Replacements | 16 Bhairaj Rai, 17 Connor Thorneycroft, 18 Eddie Wiggins, 19 Elliot Christie, 20 Ethan Walker.
