Due to travel to the Butts Park Arena on New Year’s Day, which is the home of Coventry Rugby, the Cornish Pirates will be fully aware of the task ahead. Kick-off for this fifth versus eighth Round 13 game in the Champ is at 3pm.

The Pirates have selected a new centre partnership for their latest encounter, with Zack Wimbush and Harry Yates the named pairing. Matty Ward is also given a starting place on the wing.

In the forwards, Alessandro Heaney starts at loose-head prop, Sol Moody at hooker, and Tomi Agbongbon at No 8, whilst expected to proudly make his 50^th appearance for the club is named replacement prop Billy Young.

Speaking ahead of Thursday’s match, Cornish Pirates’ coach Joe Walsh has commented:

“There were certain encouraging signs in our defeat at home to Ealing Trailfinders, although we didn’t quite reach the level of physicality that we wanted and expected.

“Now looking forward to playing Coventry, they have been in good form and can be a dangerous animal. It’s a bit frustrating that we only have a 5-day turnaround, so we need to put some motivation behind that for what will be a different type of game played on their fast artificial track.

“Coventry have made some useful signings, and we know their threats, plus it is important that we put our own game on the pitch which we haven’t been able to do these past couple or so weeks.

Joe added:

“As we go into the New Year, it is hoped to have available several players who have been missing. Also, if we can get that consistency in personnel and put together some winning performances then it’ll give us that chance to climb back up the league table.”

The full selection for the Cornish Pirates this weekend is as follows:

Cornish Pirates:   15 Iwan Price-Thomas 14 Arthur Relton 13 Zack Wimbush 12 Harry Yates 11 Matty Ward 10 Arwel Robson 9 Dan Hiscocks (captain); 1 Alessandro Heaney 2 Sol Moody 3 Alfie Petch 4 Charlie Rice 5 Alfie Bell 6 Rory Suttor 7 Josh King 8 Tomi Agbongbon.

Replacements:   16 Matt Pritchard 17 Billy Young 18 James French 19 Milo Hallam 20 Luke Ratcliff 21 Will Rigelsford 22 Louie Sinclair 23 Joe Elderkin.

Referee:    Hamish Grant

Assistants:   Jack Sutton & James Clarke

Official 4:   Kieron Henry