Sale Sharks Senior Academy Coach Gareth Harris has named eight debutants in his squad to face Championship side Doncaster Knights on Friday night as the Premiership Rugby Cup gets underway (7.30pm KO).
Flanker Jos Gilmore and centre Osian Roberts start for the first time while props Ralph McEachran and Tye Raymont, as well as back rower Seb Kelly, fly-half Charlie Wardle, centre Toby Wilson and Sale FC scrum-half Joe Green all make their first appearances in a Sharks matchday 23.
In the front row, Tumy Onasanya and James Harper start either side of hooker Tadgh McElroy.
Gareth has named a towering second-row as Le Roux Roets and Tom Burrow team up for the first time. It’s an all Sharks Academy back-row, with former Sandbach flanker Gilmore joining Tristan Woodman and number 8 Will Riley.
Will Wootton starts alongside skipper Tom Curtis at half-back and they’ve got Joe Bedlow and Cardiff-born Wales U18s international Roberts outside them in the centres.
England U20s winger Alex Wills joins Obi Ene and Luke James in a pacy back-three.
On the bench, Harry Thompson, former London Irish academy prop McEachran and Yorkshireman Ryemont cover the front row. Ben Bamber and Rochdale RUFC graduate Kelly are the other forward replacements.
Former England U20s fly-half Wardle and Macclesfield’s Toby Wilson cover the backs along with scrum-half Joe Green, who steps up from Sale FC.
Sale Sharks Starting XV:
15. Luke James, 14. Obi Ene, 13. Osian Roberts, 12. Joe Bedlow, 11. Alex Wills, 10. Ton Curtis ©, 9. Will Wootton, 1. Tumy Onasanya, 2. Tadgh McElroy, 3. James Harper, 4. Le Roux Roets, 5. Tom Burrow, 6. Jos Gilmore, 7. Tristan Woodman, 8. Will Riley.
Replacements:
16. Harry Thompson, 17. Ralph McEachran, 18. Tye Raymont, 19. Ben Bamber, 20. Seb Kelly, 21. Joe Green, 22. Charlie Wardle, 23. Toby Wilson.
