RUGBY NEWS: London Welsh Team v Leicester Tigers

Posted on Aug 31, 2012 in London Welsh

London Welsh head coach Lyn Jones has named an experienced side for the Exiles’ Aviva Premiership debut against Leicester Tigers at the Kassam Stadium on Sunday (kick-off 2pm).

The Welsh side contains five of the starting line up that clinched the Championship at the Kassam on May 30 – captain Jonathan Mills, Gordon Ross, Joe Ajuwa, Lee Beach and Hudson Tonga’uiha.

Mills, who made his debut for Welsh on loan from the Scarlets in January 2007, will be making his 144th appearance for the club.

Ross won the last of his 25 caps for Scotland in 2006 and is beginning his fourth season at Old Deer Park, while Ajuwa contributed ten tries to the Exiles’ Championship winning campaign.

Tonga’uiha is the brother of Northampton Saints prop Soane and was the club’s leading try scorer last season in the Championship, with 12. Beach captained Wales to Sevens World Cup glory in 2009 in Dubai and was man of the match in the second leg of the Championship final against the Pirates.

Of the club’s summer additions, internationals Phil MacKenzie (Canada), Sonny Parker (Wales), Franck Montanella (France), Paulica Ion (Romania) and Kirill Kulemin (Russia) all start on Sunday.

London Welsh: 15. Tom Arscott, 14. Phil MacKenzie*, 13. Sonny Parker*, 12. Hudson Tonga’uiha*, 11. Joe Ajuwa, 10. Gordon Ross*, 9. Jonah Holmes, 1. Franck Montanella*, 2. Neil Briggs, 3. Paulica Ion*, 4. Jonathan Mills ©, 5. Kirill Kulemin*, 6. Ed Williamson, 7. Lee Beach, 8. Daniel Browne.

Replacements: 16. Greg Bateman, 17. Tom Bristow, 18. Arthur Joly, 19. Martin Purdy, 20. Alfie To’oala*, 21. Nick Runciman, 22. Seb Jewell, 23. Nick Scott.

* Denotes full international