Gloucester XV to face Barbarians

Editor

Nick Wood will captain Gloucester against the Barbarians on Tuesday while new signing Joe Latta will make his bow in the Kingsholm clash.

Wood will lead a youthful side, with selection influenced by the fact that Gloucester have a Challenge Cup fixture in La Rochelle on Thursday.

Indeed, the backline features a number of teenagers in Mat Protheroe, Harry Robinson, Olly Thorley and Lloyd Evans for whom the occasion will be the opportunity of a lifetime.

There is one wise old head in the backline, however, and that is former Gloucester and current Moseley centre, Tim Molenaar. The 34-year-old played 73 times for the Cherry and Whites between 2009 and 2013 and will no doubt receive a warm welcome on his return to Kingsholm.

The pack contains a few more familiar faces and considerably more experience. Wood packs down alongside Darren Dawidiuk, who has just returned from injury while Latta, just arrived from New Zealand, makes his first start at lock.

Elliott Stooke gets a rare run out on the blindside flank, forming a back-row unit which features Dan Thomas and Lewis Ludlow who are both amassing considerable first team experience.

Gloucester: 15 Mat Protheroe, 14 Harry Robinson, 13 Olly Thorley, 12 Tim Molenaar, 11 Steph Reynolds, 10 Lloyd Evans, 9 Ben Vellacott, 8 Lewis Ludlow, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Elliott Stooke, 5 Tom Hicks, 4 Joe Latta, 3 Nicky Thomas, 2 Darren Dawidiuk, 1 Nick Wood (c).
Replacements: 16 Henry Walker, 17 Dan Murphy, 18 Josh McNulty, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Will Safe, 21 Callum Braley, 22 Billy Burns, 23 Jack Evans.

Date: Tuesday, November 17
Venue: Kingsholm
Kick-off: 19:45 GMT