By Coventry Rugby 
Coventry Rugby supporters will get their first look at a newly bolstered squad as the club kicks off its 2025/26 campaign in a pre-season fixture against RGC.
Head Coach Alex Rae has named a 29-man squad of starters and finishers to face the Colwyn Bay-based team this Saturday at Butts Park Arena (3pm kick-off), where multiple new faces are set to feature for the Cov Dogs.
New signing Morgan Strong will captain the side on his first start in a Coventry shirt, with 10 other new additions joining him in the starting XV. Forwards Eliot Salt and Dan Green, along with backs Josh Barton and Oli Morris, are the only four starters who also featured in the 2024/25 campaign.
A fresh back-row combination including Mackenzie Graham – who has made his loan spell from Bath permanent – Will Smith, and skipper Strong will catch the eye of Cov fans. The back three will see David Opoku-Fordjour joined by Pete Sullivan and Ewan Baker, with the latter two making their first starts in Coventry shirts. Another notable inclusion is Murray Davidson, a graduate of the Coventry Rugby Pro Rugby Combine.
Jordon Poole captains the finishers, with a number of familiar faces looking to build on last season. Poole is joined in the pack by returning forwards Matt Johnson, Tom Ball, and Chester Owen, while Tommy Matthews brings Coventry experience to the back line.
Senior Academy graduates Sam Harding, Sam Gibson, Drew Johnson, Harry Ingram, and Joe Johnston will aim to make their mark in their first senior appearances as finishers. New faces Keston Lines, Tom Miles, and Api Bavadra will also look to impress.
A few absentees include Toby Trinder, Senitiki Nayalo, and Sam Maunder, who are fully fit but not playing in this game.
Matchday tickets can be purchased at: https://www.coventryrugby.co.uk/tickets/matchday-tickets/ or on the gate.
Coventry Starters (1-15): Aristot Benz-Salomon, Murray Davidson, Eliot Salt, Jack Shine, Dan Green, Mackenzie Graham, Will Smith, Morgan Strong (c), Josh Barton, Josh Thomas, David Opoku-Fordjour, Morgan Adderly-Jones, Oli Morris, Pete Sullivan, Ewan Baker.
Coventry Finishers: Keston Lines, Jordon Poole (c), Matt Johnson, Sam Gibson, Sam Harding, Drew Johnson, Tom Ball, Chester Owen, Tom Miles, Tommy Matthews, Harry Ingram, Api Bavadra, Joe Johnston.
The new Coventry Rugby 2025/26 Home Replica Shirt is available to pre-order online and in-store now: https://www.eliteprosports.co.uk/coventry-rugby/coventry-rugby-official-kit/coventry-rugby-home-kit/
