Knights in jousting match as Canadians arrive

Tyler Hotson starts and Jon Phelan will come on from the bench for Canada, who are continuing their preparations for next year’s World Cup with a fixture at Worcester (3.15pm).

Second-row forwards Hotson and Phelan could end up playing against the Knights’ Dougie Flockhart, who has been named on the bench for the Championship select team after his starring role in their surprisingly fast start to life back in the second tier.

Rotherham Titans have two players starting for the Championship team with Tom Cruse selected at hooker and Michael Keating named on the wing.

Yorkshire Carnegie captain Ryan Burrows is on the replacements’ bench alongside clubmate and prop Lee Imiolek.

“It definitely reflects well on the division that we can put out such a strong team and attract such quality opposition,” said Imiolek.

“It’s always a strong squad the division puts out. When we played the All Blacks Maori a couple of years ago, we did very well.

“The Championship is a strong competition, you see that from the amount of players that Premiership clubs take from this league.”

The latest player to graduate to the top flight is Jack Roberts, the Rotherham Titans centre, who was this week signed by Premiership side Leicester Tigers.

Roberts, 22, has gone straight into Leicester’s squad for the first round of LV Cup fixtures this weekend.

Titans coach Lee Blackett said: “He’s done a fantastic job for the Titans and, for me, he is destined to reach the top; there can be little doubt about that.

“I think it was obvious to everyone within the club that Jack Roberts wasn’t going to be here at the end of the season, the guy is a Premiership rugby player and we all wish him every success.”

In National One, Wharfedale look to build on last week’s much-needed win against Loughborough Students when they visit Old Albanians.