Exeter vs Gloucester Anglo Welsh LV= Cup preview

Exeter Chiefs have named a youthful side – as they have done in recent years in the Anglo Welsh LV=Cup – for their opening match against Gloucester on Saturday.

Although the Chiefs will be supplemented by an experienced backbone that includes the likes of James Scaysbrook, Brett Sturgess, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ceri Sweeney and skipper Dean Mumm.

Aussie international Mumm, along with Cowan-Dickie, are poised to make their first starts of the season as they return to action after long-term injuries.

Meanwhile, number eight Gareth Evans, sidelined with a knee injury since April, will make his first-team comeback.

Evans will make his first appearance since injuring his knee against Bath at Kingsholm. He will be joined in the starting line up by five players making their first competitive starts for Gloucester – Steve McColl, Mark Atkinson, Tom Isaacs, Aled Thomas and Dan Thomas.

James Hudson will skipper the side which features a number of changes with several players away on international duty.

Date: Saturday, November 1
Venue: Sandy Park
Kickoff: 15:00 (GMT)
Match Officials
Referee: Simon Harding
Assistant Referees: Andrew Pearce, Ross Campbell

Teams

Exeter: 15 Jack Arnott, 14 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 13 Max Bodilly, 12 Adam Hughes, 11 Tom James, 10 Ceri Sweeney, 9 Dave Lewis, 8 Sam Skinner, 7 Sam Simmonds, 6 James Scaysbrook, 5 Jerry Sexton, 4 Dean Mumm (c), 3 Alex Brown, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Brett Sturgess

Replacements: 16 Greg Bateman, 17 Carl Rimmer, 18 Jack Stanley, 19 Will Carrick-Smith, 20 Joel Conlon, 21 Stuart Townsend, 22 Laurence May, 23 Tom Hendrickson

Gloucester: 15 Steve McColl, 14 Shane Monahan, 13 Billy Meakes, 12 Mark Atkinson, 11 Tom Isaacs, 10 Aled Thomas, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Ross Moriarty, 5 James Hudson (c), 4 Elliot Stooke, 3 Shaun Knight, 2 Darren Dawidiuk, 1 Yann Thomas

Replacements: 16 Aleki Lutui, 17 James Gibbons, 18 Sila Puafisi, 19 Tom Hicks, 20 Joe Batley, 21 Callum Braley, 22 Billy Burns, 23 Henry Purdy