RUGBY UNION: Scottish opener is tough test

8:57pm Thursday 4th September 2008

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Chinnor face one of their toughest tests of the season in tomorrow's opening National 3 South fixture - a trip to London Scottish.

Scottish, alongside fellow big-spenders Ealing, are title favourites and have recruited a series of established names.

Among them is ex-Harlequins captain Paul Volley, a back row forward who began his career at Chinnor.

Other stars include former England Sevens captain and Wasps scrum half Simon Amor, ex-Scotland lock Iain Fullarton, plus backs James Brown and Gary Trueman, who have joined from Worcester Warriors.

To cap it all, in a week where Manchester City were bought by an Abu Dhabi-based consortium, Scottish yesterday announced a £500,000 sponsorship deal with Saudex Global, an investment company owned by a member of the Saudi Royal family.

The deal is believed to be the biggest outside of the Premiership.

As of this season, National 3 clubs can name five replacements.

Chinnor include Wasps Academy hooker Arthur Ellis, who has signed for the season, in their squad.

They have also named six other potential debutants in Angus Nielsen, Dave Jackson, Tom Jordan, Chris Rowley, Toby Prescott and Alex Wallace.

Henley Hawks have 14 new faces in their squad for the trip to Barking with only six remaining from last season.

Captain Matt Payne, Rowan Fuller and Stean Williams provide continuity in the forwards, while Angelo Flammia, Danny Wells and James Gaunt are the backs who have stuck around.

Elio Recchia completes his return from a serious ankle injury by captaining Oxford at Gloucester Old Boys in their EDF Energy Senior Vase first-round clash.

Leadbitter academy players, scrum half John Derrick, full back Josh Byles and 17-year-old wing Mario De Silva are complimented by evergreeen locks Mark Viner and Charlie Mason.

New players include Tom Turner and Adam Miller from Oxford Brooks University.

Harwell visit Gloucester Premier side Drybrook, with skipper Andy Lee saying: "It will be interesting to see how we go in what will be a very tough game.

"However it is the league programme that we will judge ourselves on over the season, and we believe we can do well in the BB&O Premier Division."

Chinnor (v London Scottish, away): from Whelan, Winpenny, Baker, Ellis, Cawston, Hutchings (capt), Black, Hastings, Nielsen, Jackson, Jordan, Rowley, Prescott, Cathcart, Powell, Oxley, Brown, Seymour, Williams, Wallace.

Henley Hawks (v Barking, away): from: Baggett, Shaylor, Flammia, Wells, Haynes, Davies, Turner, Gaunt, Hancock, Fuller, Gentilli, Tattersall, Hooson-Owen, Milford-Scott, Payne (capt), English, Cheeseman, Hulland, Williams, Hennings.