HOOKER Jack Singleton, who has been included in England’s training squad for the Guinness Six Nations opener against Ireland, will start for Warriors in their final European Challenge Cup Pool Two match against Stade Francais at Sixways on Saturday (kick-off 1pm).
Singleton, one of four uncapped players named by England Head Coach Eddie Jones, is one of six changes to Warriors’ starting XV as they attempt to secure home advantage in the quarter-finals.
Warriors guaranteed a place in the knockout stages for the first time in 10 years by beating Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium last Saturday but are likely to need a bonus point victory against Stade to finish as one of the top four highest-ranked sides.
Captain GJ van Velze also returns to lead Warriors with Sam Lewis joining him in the back row.
Andrew Kitchener and Michael Fatialofa form a new second row pairing with former England full-back Chris Pennell returning as the only change to the back division.
Jonny Arr and Callum Black, who played in Warriors’ last home European Challenge Cup quarter-final against Brive in 2009, are both in the match day squad.
Black has been named as a front row replacement along with hooker Isaac Miller and Oxford University tighthead prop Joe Morris who is in line to make his Warriors debut.
Eight of Saturday’s match day squad were involved in the memorable 38-27 victory over Stade in Paris in October which kicked off Warriors’ Challenge Cup campaign.
Warriors
15 Chris Pennell
14 Tom Howe
13 Ollie Lawrence
12 Ben Te’o
11 Dean Hammond
10 Ryan Mills
9 Jonny Arr
1 Ethan Waller
2 Jack Singleton
3 Simon Kerrod
4 Andrew Kitchener
5 Michael Fatialofa
6 Marco Mama
7 Sam Lewis
8 GJ van Velze (C)
Replacements
16 Isaac Miller
17 Callum Black
18 Joe Morris
19 Darren Barry
20 Matt Cox
21 Michael Heaney
22 Will Butler
23 Nick David