Champions Cup winner Napolioni Nalaga starts on the wing for London Irish as they take on Coventry Rugby in a friendly at Hazelwood this evening (kick-off 7pm).
Nalaga, who lifted European rugby’s top prize in 2013 with Clermont Auvergne, bagged himself a brace when the Exiles defeated Northampton Saints 29-26 at Franklin’s Gardens last month.
Fellow Pacific Islanders Manasa Saulo and Ofisa Treviranus also get the nod at tighthead prop and No. 8 respectively, while Greig Tonks starts at full-back.
Experienced campaigners Tom Fowlie and Ciaran Hearn combine in the centres, with scrum-half Scott Steele and fly-half Jacob Atkins orchestrating affairs at the heart of Irish’s backline.
There are 12 exiles academy products in the match day squad, eight of whom are starting.
Entry to the game and parking is free of charge. The Hazelwood bar will be open from 6pm serving hot food and drinks.
London Irish: 15 Greig Tonks, 14 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 13 Tom Fowlie, 12 Ciaran Hearn, 11 Napolioni Nalaga, 10 Jacob Atkins, 9 Scott Steele, 1 Austin Hay, 2 Ben Atkins, 3 Manasa Saulo, 4 Ben Donnell, 5 Jack Cooke, 6 Isaac Curtis-Harris, 7 Max Northcote-Green, 8 Ofisa Treviranus
Replacements: 16 George Frampton, 17 Brandon Baker, 18 Sam Collingridge, 19 Izzy Moore-Aiono, 21 Reuben Knight, 22 Caolan Englefield
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