DIRECTOR of Rugby Richard Thorpe has named his Chinnor side to take on Darlington Mowden Park in the National 1 season-opener tomorrow.

Our Men’s First XV head up to County Durham bidding to start the 2022/23 campaign with a victory on the road.

There will be starting debuts for James Down and Will Kelly, with Reece Marshall, Pietro Turrisi and Tom Price set for their first competitive minutes off the bench.

Captain Ben Manning only returned from injury last week and is therefore among the finishers, with vice-skipper Willie Ryan leading the side out at the Northern Echo Arena.

In the front row, Keston Lines starts at loosehead prop, with Mark Darlington at hooker and Josh McNulty at tighthead on his return to the Club. Down is partnered by Conor Brockschmidt at lock, with Alfie North, Max Heathman and Ryan making up the back row.

Kelly is the only new name among the backs as he makes his first competitive start at fly-half. Luke Carter is at nine, with Sam Yawayawa and Jason Worrall the centres, while Dean Hammond, Kieran Goss and Nick Smith make up the back three.

Among the finishers are Marshall, Bradley Harewood, Turrisi, Manning and Price.

Darlington Mowden Park v Chinnor
1. Keston Lines (21 caps)
2. Mark Darlington (51 caps)
3. Josh McNulty (24 caps)
4. James Down (0 caps)
5. Conor Brockschmidt (27 caps)
6. Alfie North (22 caps)
7. Max Heathman (6 caps)
8. Willie Ryan (53 caps)
9. Luke Carter (23 caps)
10. Will Kelly (0 caps)
11. Dean Hammond (12 caps)
12. Sam Yawayawa (40 caps)
13. Jason Worrall (45 caps)
14. Kieran Goss (135 caps)
15. Nick Smith (20 caps)

Reps:
16. Reece Marshall (0 caps)
17. Bradley Harewood (7 caps)
18. Pietro Turrisi (0 caps)
19. Ben Manning (168 caps)
20. Tom Price (0 caps)