The Nuns return to home action this weekend, and also return to the Stadium pitch for the first time this season, as we host 2nd in the league Stourbridge at Liberty Way. The Nuns come in to the game with confidence after back to back, away bonus point wins over Sils and Bridgnorth to move up to 7th in the league with 48 points, Stourbridge have 65 points. When the Nuns travelled to Stourbridge earlier in the season they lost 26-19, picking up a well deserved losing bonus point that day. If they can maintain the performance levels of recent games then an entertaining game could be the order of the day for what is expected to be a bumper crowd. We have a former player’s re-union going on and well over 100 diners in the marquee plus a strong contingent from the M&J section welcoming the sides on to the pitch.

In their last outings the Nuns secured a last kick of the game 33-34 win at Bridgnorth in a game that shared plenty of attacking rugby. Stourbridge went down 22-24 at home to league leaders Syston, who could claim the league title this weekend with a win over bottom of the league Kenilworth.

The Saxons are back in league action this weekend as they make the trip to Tamworth and will be looking to complete a league double having won the home game 36-23. The Saxons are currently 9th in the league with 26 points and Tamworth are 10th on 17 points.

The Saracens went down last week 22-36 to Barkers Butts 2s; they have no game this week.

The Colts are away to Old Laurentians in a league fixture. They returned to competitive action last week after a long break with a 19 all draw.

Team news: Ben Dawes returns at tight head prop and Rudi Reid comes into the back row for Zeb Gibson who has a concussion.

Tom Smitham starts at scrum half with Tobias Trafford unavailable, Ryan Preston comes back in at centre with Ben Kirby ruled out with a hamstring injury and Harry Beverley starts on the wing.

Ryan Marsh is joined on the bench by the returning James Moreton and Joe Wilson.

Squad to play Stourbridge RFC, Stadium Pitch 3pm:

1 James Redman*
2 Louis Addleton
3 Ben Dawes
4 Ben Haywood
5 Tom Aherne
6 Oli Mitchell*
7 Benji Mitchell*
8 Rudi Reid
9 Tom Smitham*
10 Lucas Brindley*
11 Travis Bennett-Allcock *
12 Tom Eales
13 Ryan Preston
14 Harry Beverley*
15 Mike Volaikisuva*

16 Ryan Marsh
17 James Moreton*
18 Joe Wilson*

*Nuneaton RFC Pathway Players

Saxons V Tamworth, Away 3pm:

Dave Darker*, Jack Iles*, Steve Orton, Tyler Freeman*, Chris Smith*, James O’Donoghue, Thor Sidhu*, George Wallis*, Lee Booton, Arron Skyrme, Clive Brampton, Ben Stewart*, Lewis Cox*, Ben Gilbert*, Scott Cawley, Charlie Smith*, Tak Chawadya, Will Cleaver*

Regional 1 Midlands Round 19 Fixtures:

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

Regional 1 Midlands Round 18 Catch Up Fixtures:

Bromsgrove V Silhillians (Friday Night) POSTPONED
Burton 29-12 Long Eaton
Derby 69-19 Kenilworth
Bridgnorth 33-34 Nuneaton
Silhillians 20-31 Nuneaton