Skinner to make first start of season at Gloucester

Scotland second-row Sam Skinner will make his first start of the season in Edinburgh Rugby’s EPCR Challenge Cup opener away to Gloucester at Kingsholm Stadium this Friday (7 December, kick-off 8pm) – live on Premier Sports.

Skinner earned his first minutes of the season in Saturday’s win against Benetton, having recovered from knee surgery during the summer, and comes into the side as one of eight changes.

Freddy Douglas, fresh from debuting for the capital and signing his first-pro deal, makes his first start for his boyhood club, while there could be debuts in the form of Robert Carmichael (lock) and Liam McConnell (back-row), who are both selected on the bench.

Everitt said: “It’s an exciting opportunity for a lot of guys. We have a couple of experienced guys making their comeback from injury combined with some younger players coming in for the match, which is great to see.”

He added: “Gloucester have been playing some really exciting rugby and it promises to be a great night in front of a packed-out Kingsholm Stadium.”

Wes Goosen retains the 15 jersey and will be joined in the back three by Ross McCann and Nathan Sweeney, the latter making his first senior start for the club.

Everitt names an unchanged centre partnership, with Mosese Tuipulotu (inside centre) and Matt Currie (outside) forming the capital midfield for consecutive matches.

Club co-captain and scrum-half Ben Vellacott comes into the starting XV to face his former club, having come through the Kingsholm academy ranks, and joins Ross Thompson (stand-off) in the half backs.

Boan Venter (loosehead) and Paddy Harrison (hooker) start in the front row, joining tighthead prop Paul Hill, who bagged his first try for the club last time out.

At lock, Marshall Sykes returns, having featured in all the capital’s matches thus far, alongside Skinner to complete the second-row.

Douglas is joined in the back-row by experienced duo of Tom Dodd (blindside) – recent vice-captain for Scotland ‘A’ vs Chile – and club centurion Magnus Bradbury (number eight).

Edinburgh Rugby side to face Gloucester Rugby at Kingsholm Stadium (Friday 7 December, kick-off 8pm) – live on PremierSports.

15. Wes Goosen (38)
14. Ross McCann (5)
13. Matt Currie (45)
12. Mosese Tuipulotu (6)
11. Nathan Sweeney (2)

10. Ross Thompson (7)
9. Ben Vellacott (68) CAPTAIN

1. Boan Venter (73)
2. Paddy Harrison (19)
3. Paul Hill (7)
4. Marshall Sykes (69)
5. Sam Skinner (26)
6. Tom Dodd (11)
7. Freddy Douglas (1)
8. Magnus Bradbury (119)

Replacements

16. Dave Cherry (96)
17. Mikey Jones (1)
18. D’arcy Rae (12)
19.Robert Carmichael*
20. Liam McConnell*
21. Charlie Shiel (63)
22. Ben Healy (27)
23. James Lang (57)

Unavailable: Pierre Schoeman, Darcy Graham, Duhan van der Merwe, Ali Price, Ewan Ashman, Grant Gilchrist, Jamie Ritchie (rest protocol), Ben Muncaster (Illness), Mark Bennett (quad), Emiliano Boffelli (back), Connor Boyle (knee), Luke Crosbie (calf), Robin Hislop (calf), Harry Paterson (hamstring), Glen Young (calf).

*Edinburgh Rugby debut