Royal Navy Ring Changes for Final IDRC Pool Match : Royal Navy Rugby Union

Royal Navy Ring Changes for Final IDRC Pool Match

Tom Davies replaces Jon Humphrey who is recovering with a groin strain

Kyle Mason captains his team for the first time in a competitive match

Tom Blackburn makes his first start in IDRC2015 at tight head prop

Sam Davies has been drafted into the squad as replacement for Josh Jones who has a torn quad

Richard Cadywould replaces Nathan Huntley at flyhalf

Matt Bowden has recovered from his injury and returns to the side on the wing

The Royal Navy have made a number of changes for their final pool game against Japan with a number of players suffering knocks after two very physical matches. Ben Priddey is named as a replacement and Kyle Mason steps in as captain and leads the team for the first time in a competitive game. With both teams looking for their first win of IDRC2015 the Royal Navy know that Japan will pose very different challenges than those posed by Fiji and New Zealand.

In the front row Tom Blackburn comes in at tighthead with both John Court and Josh Terry unavailable joining Kyle Mason and Harry Collins with the second row pairing, of John Lamsin and Edd Pascoe, remaining unchanged for the third match in succession.

Ben Fox is given his first start for a couple of seasons in the backrow alongside Jarrad Hayer and Dave Fairbrother. Whilst Johnny Stephen has a new half back partner in Richard Cadywould.

Josh Jones’s leg injury has not cleared up so Sam Davies has joined the squad and comes straight in to centre where he is paired alongside Darren Bamford whose previous appearances have been from the bench. Ben Chambers moves wings to accommodate Matt Bowden’s return from injury whilst Tom Davies starts at fullback as Jon Humphrey rests a strained groin.

Ben Priddey is named on the bench along with Joe Burton and Ian Cooper who provide front row cover. Seta Raumakita provides backrow cover whilst Stew Bartlett is primed to make his Senior XV debut in a competitive match. Greg Loydall makes his first match day squad of the competition along with Sam Benzie and they are joined by the experienced Nathan Huntley.

The next matches at US Portsmouth will be on Monday 19 Oct. There will be a semi final of the Plate Competition followed by a Quarter Final. The teams will be announced after all the games have been played in Round 3.

Royal Navy Starting XV: Kyle Mason (C), Harry Collins, Tom Blackburn, John Lamsin, Edd Pascoe, Ben Fox, Jarrad Hayler, Dave Fairbrother, Johnny Stephen, Richard Cadywould, Matt Bowden, Sam Davies, Darren Bamford, Ben Chambers, Tom Davies

Replacements: Ben Priddey, Ian Cooper, Joe Burton, Stew Bartlett, Seta Raumakita, Greg Loydall, Sam Benzie, Nathan Huntley

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