Bournville flanker Louis Mifsud is in line to become only the second player to be capped while with the club.
The in-form Mifsud has been included in Malta’s squad for their Rugby Europe Conference Group D match against Cyprus at the Tsiro Stadium in Limassol on May 4.
If he plays Mifsud will have the distinction of becoming the first Bournville player since Gary Baldwin (Bermuda) to win a cap while a member of the club and the second international in the current squad, joining Alex Grove who was capped by Scotland while with Worcester Warriors.
Former Tonga international back-row forward Hese Fakatou also played for Bournville but won his five caps before moving to England after the 1999 Rugby World Cup.
Oscar Clayton played international sevens for Jamaica while with Bournville in the 2021/22 season and current first team squad member Kuba Kujak has represented Poland Under-20s with injury preventing him from pushing for full international honours this season.
Malta currently top their group having beaten Cyprus 22-17 in Corradino in their opening match in January. Malta have further group matches home and away against Israel on dates to be confirmed.
Mifsud’s Malta call-up means that he has been rested for Saturday’s National Two West match against Hornets at Hutton Moor Road (2.30pm).
His place at openside flanker is taken by Chris Idehen who returns to lead the side having completed a one-match suspension imposed under the RFU’s totting-up process having received three yellow cards for foul play this season.
Idehen’s return is one of just two changes to the starting XV with Josh Bloomfield, who came off the bench against Chester last week, partnering Sam Grimshaw in the centre. Bloomfield replaces Grove who sustained two cracked ribs in a tackle last week.
Fly-half Jacob Fewtrell returns to the matchday squad as a replacement having missed the last two matches with a torn hamstring.
Bournville head to Weston-Super-Mare based Hornets seeking their first away win of the campaign and with a last opportunity to break their duck. The last win on the road came at Barnstaple in February 2023.
A win would also secure the only double of the season, following a 24-12 win over Hornets at Avery Fields in December, and possibly take Bournville above their hosts – currently three points clear in 11th place – in the table.
Hornets, like Bournville have won eight games this season – three away from home – and drawn twice at Redruth and Hinckley.
Last season Hornets edged out Bournville 17-10 at Hutton Moor Road in the first-ever meeting between the clubs before going down 46-38 at the end of the season.
Bournville | 15 Owen Williams; 14 Alex Evans, 13 Josh Bloomfield, 12 Sam Grimshaw, 11 Nathan Decalmer; 10 Rhys Williams, 9 Jay West; 1 James Burgoyne, 2 James Weaver, 3 Stef Thorp, 4 Nick Murphy, 5 Matt Spence, 6 Ben Meakin, 7 Chris Idehen (C), 8 Jonjo Fanning.
Replacements | 16 Ollie Stone, 17 Clarkson McLeod, 18 Lewis Hall, 19 Mark Coulson, 20 Jacob Fewtrell.
Bournville Blues are also away on Saturday with a trip to Kidderminster Carolians at Marlpool Lane (2.30pm).
The Blues have completed their Midlands Reserve League First Division campaign, finishing second just a point behind Dudley Kingswinford who clinched the title with a bonus point victory over Lichfield last week.
Bournville Blues | 15 Niall Demel; 14 Abraham Jones, 13 Ryan Carter, 12 Matt Shepperd, 11 Phil Valegatu; 10 Joe Nellany, 9 Lockie Moeller; 1 Kieron Maguire, 2 Dan Hood, 3 AN Other, 4 Dan Lewis, 5 Sam Beckford, 6 Luka Rajkovic, 7 Harry Sigley, 8 Jamie Allison.
Replacements | 16 Ricky Wilde, 17 Harry Belcher.
