CHRIS Pennell and Jonathan Thomas have been named on Worcester Warrior’s bench for tonight’s Championship match against Jersey at Sixways (kick-off 7.45pm) following long injury lay-offs.
Welshman Thomas has not featured since last season due to a calf problem while England international Pennell has been absent since the first game of the season against Bristol Rugby.
Director of Rugby Ryan makes seven changes to the starting line-up that earned a bonus-point win at Plymouth Albion last weekend as they look to make it ten wins in a row.
In the half-back partnership scrum-half Charlie Mulchrone lines up next to Ryan Lamb at stand-off.
An all-change midfield from last weekend sees Ryan Mills partner Max Stelling while Sam Smith and Tom Biggs keep their places on the wing. Ben Howard retains his place at full-back.
Georgian prop Val Rapava Ruskin returns to the front-row alongside Niall Annett and Academy prop Mike Daniels.
Mike Williams drops back into the second-row next to Darren O’Shea with Mat Gilbert returning to the back-row next to Matt Cox and GJ van Velze.
There is a place for prop Rob O’Donnell on the bench who could be in line for his first Warriors appearance of the campaign after a two-week loan spell with Nottingham Rugby.
Ryan said: “For this club to get better some of those youngsters we’ve brought in need to be regular first-team players. We can’t go back to that same group because we’ll end up at the same level.
“We’re using this whole season to try and grow people’s understanding so I’m delighted with where we’re at.
“Our driving maul has been at the centre of a lot of things. Darren O’Shea is central to that with quality lineout calling and catching and stability in the drive.
“Players coming in and raising the standard will either ask questions of those who have been in there or they will hold the shirt. And the more places that we can get that, the better.”
Warriors line-up v Jersey
15 Ben Howard
14 Sam Smith
13 Max Stelling
12 Ryan Mills
11 Tom Biggs
10 Ryan Lamb
9 Charlie Mulchrone
1 Val Rapava Ruskin
2 Niall Annett
3 Mike Daniels
4 Mike Williams
5 Darren O’Shea
6 Matt Cox
7 Mat Gilbert
8 GJ van Velze (C)
Replacements
16 Ben Sowrey
17 Ryan Bower
18 Rob O’Donnell
19 Jonathan Thomas
20 JB Bruzulier
21 Andy Symons
22 Chris Pennell