Squad named for Blaydon test

COVENTRY travel to Blaydon with a 20-man squad showing four changes from the one that beat Hull Ionians last time out.

Sam Harry comes in at open side flanker at the expense of Olly Povoas, Rob Knox replaces Max Trimble , and the other two are a result of injuries to Pete White and Andy Brown.

Sam Grasso replacing White, who is out for one week after picking up a neck injury playing for England Counties last week, at scrum-half, while Jake Byrne (pictured) is called in for loose head prop Brown who, sadly, will miss the rest of the season after sustaining knee cartilage damage in a freak accident at work.

Tony Fenner, James Stokes, Jimmy Litchfield, Matt Price and Freddie Tuilagi all have starting slots tomorrow and Darrel Dyer moves to blind side flanker from No.8 with Wil Maisey, Scott Tolmie and Brett Daynes going on to the bench with Knox and Byrne..

Cov have yet to win at Crow Trees with one draw and five defeats from six visits, and they can expect another difficult time tomorrow with Blaydon showing four wins from their last six games – including a victory over Birmingham Moseley last week – as they fight to avoid relegation.

“It’s a tough place to go to, but we’ve picked a team we feel can do the job in the conditions we are likely to face,” said director of rugby, Rowland Winter.

“It’s a good team with a strong bench who are all expected to add input and make an impact when they go on.”

Kick-off is 2.30pm.

COVENTRY: 15 Cliffie Hodgson, 14 Tom Howe, 13 Heath Stevens, 12 Tom Wheatcroft, 11 James Stokes, 10 Tony Fenner, 9 Sam Grasso, 1 Jimmy Litchfield, 2 Matt Price, 3 Phil Boulton, 4 Tom Poole, 5 Tom Jubb, 6 Darrel Dyer, 7 Sam Harry, 8 Freddie Tuilagi.

Replacements: 16 Jake Byrne, 17 Scott Tolmie, 18 Brett Daynes, 19 Will Maisey, 20 Rob Knox.