Leicester Tigers have named a strong side for Saturday’s East Midlands Derby clash against Northampton Saints at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
Legendary duo Ben Youngs and Dan Cole share the field in a Cup competition for the first time since taking on the Dragons in the Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2009.
Cole’s last appearance in the Cup came in 2014 when he was returning from injury. Youngs will also captain the side.
An exciting Tigers group sees wing Adam Radwan make his first appearance at Mattioli Woods Welford Road. Ben Volavola starts for the first time with fullback George Pearson, the youngest player in the team (19) included on the bench.
Pearson was born in January 2006, just over a year before Young’s Tigers debut.
STARTING XV
15 Jamie Shillcock [41]
14 Adam Radwan [1]
13 Dan Kelly [90]
12 Joseph Woodward [21]
11 Will Wand [8]
10 Ben Volavola [3]
9 Ben Youngs (C) [327]
1 James Whitcombe [61]
2 Charlie Clare [111]
3 Dan Cole [334]
4 Tom Manz [10]
5 Côme Joussain [10]
6 Hanro Liebenberg [121]
7 Emeka Ilione [35]
8 Kyle Hatherell [26]
REPLACEMENTS
16 Finn Theobald-Thomas [13]
17 James Cronin [43]
18 Tim Hoyt [5]
19 Harry Wells [211]
20 Finn Carnduff [15]
21 Tom Whiteley [37]
22 Solomone Kata [32]
23 George Pearson [2]
