By Paul Smith 
Retirement-bound Will Chudley bids a fond farewell to the Butts Park Arena tomorrow when he takes his final bow in Cov’s 150th anniversary match against England Under-20s (3pm kick off).
Chudley teams up with regular half-back partner Pat Pellegrini against an England side that is preparing for the next World Cup which is scheduled for South Africa in June and July.
A number of other players will also make their final appearances in blue-and-white and it is hoped those present will stay after the game to help the club say thank-you and goodbye through the presentation of framed shirts.
Full back Tobi Wilson and centre Will Wand both drop into this category and they are joined in the starting three-quarters’ line-up by top league try-scorer Jimmy Martin, Tom Hitchcock and the exciting David Opoku.
In the forwards head coach Alex Rae hands a start to Fijian prospect Vili Nairau while the absence of broken ankle victim James Tyas allows Rhys Anstey to team up with Obi Nkwocha in the engine room.
The promising Chester Owen starts at no.8 with Tiki Nayalo named on the bench following his impressive efforts at Twickenham for the British Army against the Royal Navy.
Cov fans will also get a first glimpse of newly-signed loose-head prop Jevaughn Warren who sits among the replacements with the likes of Ryan Hutler, Suva Ma’asi and Evan Mitchell.
Looking ahead to the match Rae said Cov are looking forward to a big occasion at the end of the season.
“It’s nice to finish the season at home and have the opportunity for the fans to say goodbye to the leavers,” he said.
“You don’t get the chance to enjoy a game very often but we’ve also had a brilliant training week and we’re really looking forward to the game.
“England will bring the most talented lads in the country. They’re sure to play a good brand of rugby and it’s up to us to help them with their preparations for the World Cup by putting in a good performance.”
Coventry Rugby: Wilson; Opoku, Wand, Hitchcock, Martin; Pellegrini, Chudley; Nairau, Poole, Salt; Anstey, Nkwocha; Ball, Kvesic, Owen.
Replacements: Ma’asi, Warren, Andrews, Nayalo, Stone, Lane, Mannion, Hutler, Mitchell, Ogden.
Buy tickets to Coventry Rugby’s 150th anniversary celebration match against England U20’s on Saturday May 25th here: https://www.coventryrugby.co.uk/tickets/matchday-tickets/
