The Nuns return to Liberty Way this weekend and will be looking to get a first win of the season after two performances that have yielded two try bonus points without being able to finish off either with a win. In last Saturdays defeat to Burton the side were again leading at half time but playing into a stiff second half breeze couldn’t turn this into a win. Again, it was encouraging to see tries being scored but some mistakes were again punished and with a kick at the death going wide, the chance for at least a second bonus point went missing.

Derby are the visitors this weekend and they have had a difficult start to the season with heavy defeats to Banbury (69-7) and Syston (67-11) leaving them in 12th with no points. The Nuns sit in 10th with 2 points so far.

The Saxons have a bye week due to there being 11 teams in the league. Last weekend they went down 31-7 to Hinckley. It was a performance with plenty of determination and a big focus over the next couple of weeks will be turning the pressure they create into points.

The Saracens had a league game against Leamington planned but now travel to Camp Hill for a friendly. They opened their season with a 48-14 defeat to Pinley last weekend.

The Colts are in Cup action on Sunday when the host Lutterworth. They lost to Old Coventrians 43-26 last Friday night.

Team news: two changes in the pack see Ben Haywood come back in at second row in place of the unavailable Nick Walton and Rudi Reid comes in for the injured George Wallis on the back row for his first appearance in the league this season.

In the backline there are changes at scrum half and the back three. Tom Smitham is unavailable and so Ben Kirby switches there from full back. New signing Josh Wright starts at full back having joined at the end of preseason and comes in on the wing for Tak Chawadya who is ruled out with concussion.

Dave Darker will make his competitive debut for the 1st team off the bench covering the front row and is joined by Arron Skyrme and Mike Volaikisuva.

Squad to play Derby RFC, Home 3pm:

1 James Redman*
2 Louis Addleton
3 Ben Dawes
4 Ben Haywood
5 Tom Aherne*
6 James Lloyd
7 Rudi Reid
8 Martin Wood
9 Ben Kirby
10 Joe Wilson*
11 Travis Bennett-Allcock*
12 Ryan Preston
13 Harry Beverley*
14 Charlie Smith*
15 Josh Wright
16 Dave Darker*
17 Arron Skyrme
18 Mike Volaikisuva *

*Nuneaton RFC Pathway Players

Regional 1 Midlands Round 3 Fixtures:

Kenilworth V Bromsgrove
Silhillians V Long Eaton
Stourbridge V Burton
Syston V Dudley Kingswinford
Banbury V Bridgnorth
Nuneaton V Derby

Regional 1 Midlands Round 2 Results:

Bridgnorth 50-3 Silhillians
Bromsgrove 23-33 Stourbridge
Derby 11-67 Syston
Long Eaton 47-21 Kenilworth
Dudley Kingswinford 29-24 Banbury
Burton 39-31 Nuneaton