B&I Cup - Doncaster Knights make changes in bid for lift-off

Doncaster, who moved back up to third in the Championship with last week’s victory over Richmond, find themselves bottom of their B&I Cup pool.

They have only played one game – a defeat to local rivals Rotherham Titans – in a pool decimated by cancelled fixtures for London Welsh.

Today’s game was postponed back in October following the death of Munster head coach Anthony Foley.

Paul Jarvis starts at full-back with Andy Bulumakau and Sam Edgerley on the wings. Lloyd Hayes’s return to fitness sees a recall to midfield alongside Mat Clark. Simon Humberstone switches with Dec Cusack at stand off with Michael Heaney continuing at scrum-half.

Veterans Richard List and Colin Quigley are the props, either side of Jack Bergmanas, who makes his first start since recovering from major knee surgery.

Glen Young continues at lock alongside another dual-registered prospect, Worcester Warriors’ Huw Taylor and the back row is unchanged with Michael Hills captaining the side from flanker alongside Jack Ram and Jarad Williams.

Dual-registered players David Nelson from Newcastle and Ben White and Will Owen from Leicester are all included among the replacements.

Yorkshire Carnegie have strengthened their front row with the signing of Tongan international tighthead prop Sione Faletau, 28, from Counties Manukau in New Zealand.

Faletau has three Test caps, all gained last summer after making his debut against Fiji in June.

He joined Counties Manukau last season from Patumahoe and has previously played at.

He has signed with Yorkshire Carnegie until the end of the current Greene King IPA Championship season and will be available for selection for the club’s trip to Bedford next Saturday in the B&I Cup.

Carnegie head coach Bryan Redpath said: “It is important that we look to strengthen the squad when we can for the second half of the season as we look to build on the good work we have already done so far.”