BOURNVILLE will give a debut to Birmingham University wing Will Loftus in Saturday’s National Two West match at Bristol-based Old Redcliffians.
Loftus made his club debut for Bournville Blues in last Saturday emphatic Counties Three Midlands West (South) win over Hereford IIs and earns rapid promotion in a side ravaged by injuries, unavailability and suspension.
There are seven changes of personnel to the starting XV plus four positional as Bourns seek their first away win of the season and their first on turf in more than two years.
Prop Scott Rudge will make his first appearance in 12 months in the absence of James Burgoyne who received a three-match suspension following his sending-off for punching in the closing stages of last week’s defeat by Exeter University.
Rudge spent part of last season on loan at Old Halesonians and joined Stourbridge last summer before returning to Avery Fields in January.
He has played regularly for the Blues over the past two months and will start at Old Redcliffians with Clarkson McLeod moving across the scrum to tighthead.
Reiss Price and Jacob Fewtrell are the only two backs who started against Exeter who will face Old Redcliffians with Fewtrell switching from fly-half to partner the recalled Sam Grimshaw in the centre.
Dan Rundle returns on the left wing to add experience to the back division with Freddie Morgan and James Mann, who were replacements against Exeter, both promoted to the starting line-up this week.
Captain Ben Meakin moves from lock to the blindside flank with Kieran Henderson switching to number eight in place of Jonjo Fanning who will be pressed into service as a replacement hooker this week.
Harry Dawson is restored to the second row to partner Nick Murphy
Former Scotland centre Alex Grove, who is in charge of the team following Matt Price’s departure, has named himself as a replacement with utility back Josh Tutt recalled from a loan stint with Burton.
Tutt joined Bournville from Broadstreet last summer and appeared in the pre-season matches. He began the campaign in the Blues but has been on loan at Burton since October.
Lock/back-row forward George Jewell is also named as a replacement having made his debut off the bench at Redruth last month.
Bournville head to Scotland Lane seeking just their second win against Old Redcliffians with the sole success coming at Avery Fields last season.
Old Redcliffians gained revenge with a 23-12 win on their return visit in November although Bournville did secure a losing bonus point the last time they visited Old Redcliffians in September 2023.
Bournville | 15 Freddie Morgan; 14 Will Loftus, 13 Sam Grimshaw, 12 Jacob Fewtrell, 11 Dan Rundle; 10 James Mann, 9 Reiss Price; 1 Scott Rudge, 2 Jake Bailey, 3 Clarkson McLeod, 4 Harry Dawson, 5 Nick Murphy, 6 Ben Meakin (C), 7 Louis Mifsud, 8 Kieran Henderson.
Replacements | 16 Jonjo Fanning, 17 James Weaver, 18 George Jewell, 19 Alex Grove, 20 Josh Tutt.
