Chinnor have signed England Under 18 and Wasps Academy wing/centre Chris Elder ahead of Saturday's National 3 South West clash with Chippenham.
Elder, who started in England’s 28-12 victory over Italy last week, goes straight into the squad for the match at Kingsey Road.
The RGS High Wycombe pupil is the only addition to Chinnor’s backline, while flanker Max Williams also comes into contention up front.
Chinnor have four out of their five remaining games at home and look capable of winning the lot, which may well see them finish the season in third.
Meanwhile, Chinnor’s Rob Hill has been named on the bench for England Deaf in tomorrow’s international against Scotland.
Kenny Sewell moves to scrum half in place of Nick Haydon (unavailable) as Oxford Harlequins plan for what should be a tough test at Bournemouth.
Jeff Stewart is expected to return at fly half after missing the last three matches with a shoulder injury.
Mark Forth replaces Graham Crapper (ski-ing) at full back and will provide an extra kicking option.
Academy prop Ollie Barlow comes in on the bench.
Director of rugby John Brodley said: “I think this is a big challenge for us. They have been in the top five for most of the season.
“We know from our 5-5 draw with them that both sides are very similar.
“We hope that our improvement since then has been greater than theirs.
“The grounds are getting firmer and that suits our present style of play.”
Experienced centre Ali James is unavailable for Henley Hawks’ trip to National 2 South basement boys Bridgwater & Albion.
Neil Baggett comes in, while Pete Davies is on standy to replace Tommy Haynes (back problem) at full back.
Prop Hugo Gentilli is in Australia, so Rowan Fuller moves to loose-head and Jim Hadfield comes in on the tight-head side.
Hawks, who were buoyed by last week’s draw with Ealing, feel a win in Somerset should ensure their survival.
Wallingford make just one personnel change for the visit of Oakmedians in South West 1 East.
Wing Jackson Sayce replaces Johnny Collett (unavailable), with Richard Turner moving to outside centre.
Wallingford head coach Chris Norrington said: “Oakmedians are a team that like to play a bit, but hopefully we’ll get the edge on them up front as we did in the previous game.”
Centre Aaron Tustin and utility forward Joe Rowles return to the Witney squad for their trip to Newbury Stags in Southern Counties North.
Five wins from their remaining five matches will secure Witney the title.
- OXFORD University scrum half Jessie Flowers has been named in the England women’s under 20 team to face France on March 21.
Flowers will hope for a better result than Saturday’s women’s Varsity Match, which Oxford lost 25-0 at Iffley Road.
Chinnor (v Chippenham, home): from Winpenny, Whelan, Stock, Cawston, Pickett, Hutchings (capt), Jackman, M Williams, Gilbert, Mowbray, Jones, Hastings, Wallace, Serrano, B Hewitt, Chase, Stoop, R Williams, Cathcart, Prescott, Elder.
Oxford Harlequins (v Bournemouth, away): Forth, Nutt, Cope, Maley, H Jones, Stewart, Sewell, Eckert, Chadbone (capt), DeLange, Cross, Boyle, Newman, Davies, Welburn. Reps: Barlow, Pearson, Knapp.
Henley Hawks (v Bridgwater & Albion, away): Haynes, Jones, Wells, Baggett, Shaylor, Fulton, Gaunt (capt), Fuller, Dalgleish, Hadfield, Clements, Green, Hennings, Thompson, M Payne. Reps: Matthews, Penny, Dupee, Cruickshank, Davies.
Wallingford (v Oakmedians, home): Venners, Smith, R Turner, Holton, Sayce, Brettell, Viloen, Blaszko, Hil, Small, Rowberry, McKenna, W Woodward, Chapman, Jeffreys (capt). Rep: Keable.
Witney (v Newbury Stags, away): from Mitchem, Monks, Lambourne, J Lamb (capt), Tustin, Strutt, L Collins, H Lamb, G Campbell, Burke, Fuller, S Collins, Richens, C Bennett, Fowler, J Hicks, Muller, C Campbell, Rowles.
Witney 2nd (v Chinnor 3rd, home): from Serle, D Godfrey, Richardson, Hands, S Copperwheat, Perry, J Williams, MacBurnie, Haire, Davies, Austin, Douglas, Manning, Dunbar (capt), Phillips, Taafe, Gurney, Murombedzi, Mills.
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