Premiership
Dombrandt leads Quins in first game of 22/23 campaign
England number eight Alex Dombrandt captains Harlequins this weekend as the South West London club kick-off the opening round of the 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership away to Newcastle Falcons.
Supporters not travelling to this away fixture can view the game live on PRTV.
Dombrandt, recently returned from a knee injury, fills in as skipper for injured Club Captain Stephan Lewies this week as Quins travel to Kingston Park this Saturday – live on PRTV, 15:00 kick-off.
Dombrandt is joined by fellow England international Joe Marler, with the British and Irish Lions prop earning a first start of the year, having made an impact from the bench in last Friday’s pre-season friendly against Leinster. Marler is joined by Springbok Wilco Louw at tighthead prop, with hooker George Head completing the front row.
Summer signing Irne Herbst will earn his first official Harlequins appearance at Kingston Park this Saturday, starting in a competitive match for Quins alongside new locking partner and recent Academy graduate George Hammond in the second row.
Jack Kenningham and Tom Lawday pack down on the flank either side of Dombrandt, while a halfback partnership of Lewis Gjaltema and Italian international Tommy Allan will look to direct Quins for the day at nine and ten.
The midfield sees Lennox Anyanwu and Luke Northmore continue the partnership they have established during pre-season fixtures against London Scottish and Leinster, while there are no changes to a back three of Cadan Murley, Nick David and Tyrone Green that faced Leinster last Friday night.
Commenting, Head Coach Tabai Matson said: “It’s great to be back in a Premiership game week. We’ve had two strong pre-season fixtures, but there’s a different energy around the camp this week.
“We know from our first game against Newcastle last season that they are a tough, determined team and you have to be on the ball against them. They’ll have a bit of a different energy and a new direction with a new man in charge. It’s the first game of the season we’ll play in anger. It’s so important we are focused and clear on getting our lines right to start the season off well.”
Harlequins Starting XV
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Joe Marler
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George Head
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Wilco Louw
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George Hammond
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Irne Herbst
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Jack Kenningham
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Tom Lawday
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Alex Dombrandt – Captain
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Lewis Gjaltema
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Tommy Allan
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Cadan Murley
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Lennox Anyanwu
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Luke Northmore
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Nick David
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Tyrone Green
Impact Players
16. Jack Walker
17. Simon Kerrod
18. Will Collier
19. Dino Lamb
20. Will Evans
21. Jack Stafford
22. Will Edwards
23. Joe Marchant
Images & Content – Quins Rugby
Sale Sharks can confirm that fly-half George Ford suffered a tear to his right quad during the early stages of the Gallagher Premiership round two game at Saracens on Saturday. Following a positive consultation with a specialist it was decided that George does not require surgery and he will now begin his rehab ahead of a busy period for club and country.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Alex Sanderson has made six changes to his starting XV to face Gloucester Rugby in the first game of the season under the Salford Stadium Friday night lights, while summer signing Le Roux Roets appears in a matchday squad for the first time (Discovery+, 7.45pm KO).
Josh Beaumont, Ernst van Rhyn and Rouban Birch come into the pack following the round two defeat at Saracens, while Sam Bedlow, Will Addison and Arron Reed are picked in the backs to face George Skivington’s men.
In total, 12 of the XV and 19 in the matchday 23 have come through or spent time in the Sharks Academy.
The Sharks front-row remains intact from the trip to the StoneX as England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up once again between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and loosehead Si McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Ben Bamber teams up with Josh Beaumont.
With Ben and Tom Curry as well as JL du Preez all missing as they undergo their return to play protocols following head injuries, Ernst van Rhyn returns alongside fellow flanker Sam Dugdale and Birch at number 8.
Gus Warr starts again at scrum-half but with George Ford injured (quad) he’ll have skipper Rob du Preez for company at half-back. After coming on as a replacement against Saracens, Bedlow starts alongside Addison, who makes his first start since re-joining the club in the summer.
Speedster Arron Reed makes his first appearance of the season alongside Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter.
Hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper cover the front row from the replacements bench with England U20s lock Tom Burrow and summer signing Le Roux Roets covering the rest of the forwards. Nye Thomas, Tom Curtis and Waisea Nayacalevu cover the backs.
Sale Sharks starting XV:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Will Addison, 12. Sam Bedlow, 11. Arron Reed, 10. Rob du Preez, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Josh Beaumont 6. Ernst van Rhyn, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Rouban Birch.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Tom Burrow, 20. Le Roux Roets, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Tom Curtis, 23. Waisea Nayacalevu.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Injuries have forced Alex Sanderson to make three changes to his starting XV to face Saracens at the StoneX on Saturday (3.05pm KO, Saturday 28th September, live on TNT Sports).
Si McIntyre replaces last week’s Player of the Match Bevan Rodd (hamstring), while Ben Bamber and Sam Dugdale come in for Ernst van Rhyn and Tom Curry who are both undergoing their return to play protocols after leaving the field during the round one win over Harlequins.
With Sam Bedlow returning to the bench to make a 5-3 split, the matchday squad features 16 players who have come through or been involved with the Sale Sharks Academy.
In the front-row, England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie lines up between 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour and returning loosehead McIntyre.
Al has picked a towering second-row as Bamber teams up with Hyron Andrews.
Openside flanker Ben Curry captains the side again and he and Dugdale will pack down either side of Jean-Luc du Preez at number 8.
The backs are unchanged from the narrow win over Quins, with Gus Warr starting again at scrum-half alongside fly-half George Ford, and Rob du Preez and Waisea Nayacalevu outside them in the centres.
Alex has picked a familiar back three once again with Tom O’Flaherty, Tom Roebuck and full-back Joe Carpenter hoping to provide the spark.
The replacements bench is an exclusively Sharks Academy affair with hooker Ethan Caine, and props Tumy Onasanya and James Harper covering the front row. Josh Beaumont and Rouban Birch make up the rest of the forwards, while Nye Thomas, Bedlow and Will Addison cover the backs.
Sale Sharks Starting lineup:
15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Waisea Nayacalevu, 12. Rob du Preez, 11. Tom O’Flaherty, 10. George Ford, 9. Gus Warr; 1. Si McIntyre, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Hyron Andrews, 6. Sam Dugdale, 7. Ben Curry ©, 8. Jean-Luc du Preez.
Replacements:
16. Ethan Caine, 17. Tumy Onasanya, 18. James Harper, 19. Josh Beaumont, 20. Rouban Birch, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Sam Bedlow, 23. Will Addison.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
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