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Lion sized boost as Worcester name side for what could be final Prem game
By Kim Ekin
British and Irish Lions wing Duhan van der Merwe will make his season debut for Worcester Warriors in what could be their final Gallagher Premiership game.
On Thursday Worcester were cleared to host Newcastle Falcons at Siways on Saturday but they could yet be forced into administration. The Rugby Football Union confirmed Worcester met the 12pm deadline for proving they are able to host their second home match of the season in the face of debts exceeding £25million.
However, there remains a very realistic possibility it will be their last match in the league amid a warning from the RFU that they will be suspended from all competitions on Monday if they are unable to demonstrate a credible plan for lifting Sixways out of crisis.
The giant South African-born strike runner has recovered from the quadriceps injury that ruled him out of the first three Premiership matches of the season and comes straight into the starting XV with Alex Hearle switching to the right flank from the left.
Van der Merwe is one of three changes to the side. Billy Searle returns at fly-half in place of Owen Williams. In the front row Murray McCallum will switch to the loosehead to accommodate and Jay Tyack, who is making his first start of the season at tighthead prop.
Props Kai Owen and Jack Owlett, lock Graham Kitchener and centre Oli Morris, who all started in Wednesday’s pick and mix side for the Premiership Rugby Cup match at Gloucester, which featured a number of coaches and invited players who helped out the stricken club.
WORCESTER WARRIROS: 15 Jamie Shillcock, 14 Alex Hearle, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Billy Searle, 9 Gareth Simpson, 1 Murray McCallum, 2 Curtis Langdon, 3 Jay Tyack, 4 Joe Batley, 5 Andrew Kitchener, 6 Fergus Lee-Warner, 7 Cameron Neild, 8 Tom Dodd.
REPLACEMENTS: 16 Hame Faiva, 17 Kai Owen, 18 Jack Owlett, 19 Graham Kitchener, 20 Matt Kvesic, 21 Will Chudley, 22 Oli Morris, 23 Noah Heward.
additional reporting PA
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Latest Comments
Which country do you think was instrumental in developing rugby in Argentina which then spun off into the rest of Latin South America? South Africa was touring Argentine in the 50's with their Junior Bok side on three months development tours. And they didn't do it to cultivare players for the Boks. Regarding Africa you are not taking into account that South Africa itself is an emerging nation. The rugby union has prioritised the development of rugby in South African rural communities with outstanding success.
It has taken 15 years to build the participation of rugby both in playing and watching. For South Africa on its own to build a viable international rugby competition in africa will take generations - not decades. New Zealanders seem to resent the fact that SA has doubled the income of the URC since their inclusion. If New Zealand Rugby hadn't insisted on have a disproportionate slice of the pie in Super Rugby, SA might not have fled the coop.
Go to commentsDon't think you've watched enough. I'll take him over anything I's seen so far. But let's see how the future pans out. I'm quietly confident we have a row of 10's lined uo who would each start in many really good teams.
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