Radwan is on side to take on Jersey Reds
ADAM Radwan returns for Newcastle Falcons today as they host Jersey Reds in Greene King IPA Championship action at Kingston Park.
The winger has grounded four tries in four games for the unbeaten Falcons this season and replaces Ben Stevenson in the starting XV, the fellow academy graduate who has also averaged a try a game in his four appearances this term.
Tom Penny returns at outside centre in a side showing eight changes from the one which won 18-9 away to Cornish Pirates last weekend, scrumhalf Michael Young captaining the team in what will be his first start of the campaign.
Joel Hodgson comes in at flyhalf for the league leaders as Toby Flood pushes along the line to inside centre, Sinoti Sinoti making his 100th appearance for the Falcons on the left wing.
Kyle Cooper starts at hooker after coming on from the bench last weekend, Sebastian de Chaves replacing Darren Barry in the second row after the summer signing picked up a knock in Penzance.
Callum Chick and Gary Graham join the back-row fray, Newcastle having already enjoyed a 21-8 victory over Saturday’s opponents when they travelled to the Channel island for the opening round of the Championship Cup on September 21.
“Jersey are a very robust side who gave us a good game that day, and we cannot afford to take them lightly,” said Newcastle Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards, who has USA World Cup lock Greg Peterson on the bench to make a potential club debut.
“We’ve had a good week in training as we try to make further improvements on the performances we have shown so far, and we look forward to seeing the fruits of that effort when we take the field on Saturday.”
The Fal- cons’ 1pm kick-off against Jersey forms part of a packed day of rugby action at Kingston Park Stadium, which starts with a live TV screening of England’s World Cup final against South Africa.
Supporters with a valid Falcons v Jersey match ticket can gain entry to the West Stand concourse bar from 8am ahead of the 9am kick-off, with a full bar in operation. The Jersey match at 1pm is then followed at 4.30pm when a Falcons XV takes on Scottish Super6 side Stirling County. Tickets for Newcastle Falcons v Jersey Reds are available by calling 0871 226 6060.
Newcastle Falcons team v Jersey Reds (Saturday, 1pm, Kingston Park Stadium): 15 Tom Arscott, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Tom Penny, 12 Toby Flood, 11 Sinoti Sinoti, 10 Joel Hodgson, 9 Michael Young (captain), 1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 Kyle Cooper, 3 Rodney Ah You, 4 Sebastian de Chaves, 5 Sean Robinson, 6 Callum Chick, 7 Gary Graham, 8 Nemani Nagusa Replacements: 16 Jamie Blamire, 17 Trevor Davison, 18 Mark Tampin, 19 Greg Peterson, 20 Simon Uzokwe, 21 Sam Stuart, 22 Alex Tait, 23 Ben Stevenson
Jersey are a very robust side who gave us a good game that day, and we cannot afford to take them lightly
Dean Richards