Strong Welsh contingent in Ospreys side for Challenge Cup match while backline trio returns for Newcastle

Round Three of the 2023/24 Challenge Cup campaign kicks off on Friday night with two matches scheduled as Newcastle Falcons and the Ospreys take on Benetton and Perpignan respectively.

Newcastle Falcons v Benetton

Cameron Hutchison is among the players returning for Newcastle Falcons in what should be an entertaining encounter against their Italian visitors.

The Kingston Park clash is an 8pm kick-off and sees the centre starting in a game which is pivotal to the Falcons’ hopes of progressing through to the last 16 of the competition.

Full-back Elliott Obatoyinbo also comes in for the penultimate group clash, with Josh Barton replacing the injured James Elliott at scrum-half.

Adam Brocklebank starts at loosehead prop in a pack which sees the return of John Hawkins in the second-row and Jamie Blamire at hooker, with the Falcons facing Benetton for the first time in 22 years.

Meanwhile, Benetton boss coach Marco Bortolami has named a strong side for this fixture with Eli Snyman captaining the side from the second-row. Snyman is joined in the engine room by Niccolò Cannone while Gianmarco Lucchesi (hooker) packs down alongside Thomas Gallo and Giosué Zilocchi, who are the starting props.

Lorenzo Cannone is the starting number eight and he is joined in the back-row by the flankers Manuel Zuliani and Sebastian Negri.

Amongst the backs, Rhyno Smith continues at full-back while Ignacio Mendy and Onisi Ratave start on the wings while Tommaso Menoncello and Ignacio Brex line up as the centre combination.

The run-on side is completed by the half-back duo of Tomas Albornoz and Andy Uren.

The teams

Newcastle: 15 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 George Wacokecoke, 12 Cameron Hutchison, 11 Iwan Stephens, 10 Brett Connon, 9 Josh Barton, 8 Callum Chick (c), 7 Guy Pepper, 6 Pedro Rubiolo, 5 Sebastian de Chaves, 4 John Hawkins, 3 Eduardo Bello, 2 Jamie Blamire, 1 Adam Brocklebank
Replacements: 16 Bryan Byrne, 17 Phil Brantingham, 18 Murray McCallum, 19 Freddie Lockwood, 20 Sam Cross, 21 Hugh O’Sullivan, 22 Louie Johnson, 23 Tom Penny

Benetton: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Ignacio Mendy, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Ignacio Brex, 11 Onisi Ratave, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Eli Snyman (c), 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Giosué Zilocchi, 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 1 Thomas Gallo
Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Federico Zani, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Gideon Koegelenberg, 20 Federico Ruzza, 21 Alessandro Izekor, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Jacob Umaga

Venue: Kingston Park
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Referee: Tual Trainini (France)
Assistant Referees: Ludovic Cayre (France), Flavien Hourquet (France)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)

Ospreys v Perpignan

The Ospreys have named their squad to for Friday’s Round Three Challenge Cup clash against French outfit Perpignan at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Wales international second-row Adam Beard is set to the captain the side.

Gareth Thomas starts at loosehead prop, with Sam Parry lining up at hooker and Tom Botha completing the front three.

James Fender partners with Beard at lock. James Ratti lines up at six, Dewi Lake on the other flank and Morgan Morse starting at eight following on from his wonder try against Cardiff last week.

Luke Davies gets the start at scrum-half, with Dan Edwards partnering him at fly-half. Owen Watkin starts with George North in the centres.

In the back three, Iestyn Hopkins starts at full-back, with Keelan Giles on one wing and Mat Protheroe on the other.

Will Hickey returns to the bench for the first time following his injury.

Meanwhile, openside flanker Kelian Galletier will skipper a Perpignan side who come into this fixture on a high after beating Oyonnax in their Top 14 clash last week.

He is joined in the back-row by fellow flanker Lucas Bachelier while Sadek Deghmache is the number eight with Shahn Eru and Tristan Labouteley packing down in the second-row.

In the front-row, Ignacio Ruiz lines up at hooker while Nemo Roelofse and Akato Fakatika are the starting props.

In the backline, Jake McIntyre and Sadek Deghmache start in the halfbacks while Eddie Sawailau and Apisai Naqalevu are the starting centres. Louis Dupichot gets the nod at full-back and is joined in the back three by Boris Goutard and Lucas Dubois.

The teams

Ospreys: 15 Iestyn Hopkins, 14 Mat Protheroe, 13 George North, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Luke Davies, 8 Morgan Morse, 7 Dewi Lake, 6 James Ratti, 5 Adam Beard (c), 4 James Fender, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Sam Parry, 1 Gareth Thomas
Replacements: 16 Ethan Lewis, 17 Garyn Phillips, 18 Ben Warren, 19 Lewis Jones, 20 Will Hickey, 21 Cameron Jones, 22 Jack Walsh, 23. Keiran Williams

Perpignan: 15 Louis Dupichot, 14 Boris Goutard, 13 Eddie Sawailau, 12 Apisai Naqalevu, 11 Lucas Dubois, 10 Jake McIntyre, 9 Sadek Deghmache, 8 So’otala Fa’aso’o, 7 Kelian Galletier (c), 6 Lucas Bachelier, 5 Shahn Eru, 4 Tristan Labouteley, 3 Nemo Roelofse, 2 Ignacio Ruiz, 1 Akato Fakatika
Replacements: 16 Victor Montgaillard, 17 Sacha Lotrian, 18 Arthur Joly, 19 Bastien Chinarro, 20 Alan Brazo, 21 Joaquin Oviedo, 22 Matteo Rodor, 23 Jean-Pascal Barraque

Venue: Swansea.com Stadium
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Referee: Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

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