Whites coach returns home bidding for Quins cup scalp

CARMARTHEN Quins make five changes to their starting line-up for tomorrow night’s British & Irish Cup group game against Swansea with a trio of Wales Sevens players returning to the fold.

Swansea head coach Mefin Davies, who returns to the club where he started his career, has yet to name his squad for the Pool 3 encounter at Carmarthen Park (7.15pm) as the visitors look to follow up last Saturday’s home victory over Dundee HSFP in the first round of fixtures.

That 43-17 win gave Davies’s men a much-needed confidence boost after a poor start to the Principality Premiership season while Quins picked up a bonus point in a 44-32 defeat at former winners Cornish Pirates on Sunday.

On paper, Swansea have the edge with four victories in the last five league meetings between the teams but have won just once in the Premiership so far this term while Quins beat Bridgend and Aberavon before the Pirates setback.

Sevens stars James Davies, Lee Williams and Rhys Jones are back for the hosts after being away on duty with Wales last weekend. Sion Bennett moves from the openside flank to the bench to accommodate Davies with Williams starting on the right wing as Rhys Thomas takes over from Chris Banfield at full-back.

Jones has to settle for a place on the bench but there is a debut for last season’s Wales under-18s fly-half, club and Scarlets Academy product Jack Maynard, who replaces James Dixon.

Up front, captain Ian Jones switches from the tighthead to the loosehead with Trystan Davies getting the nod for the number three jersey over Gareth Thomas. Carwyn Jones makes way for Gavin Evans at lock while Ricky Guest and Connor Lloyd come back in as replacements.

“Tomorrow has all the ingredients for a cracking game and we look forward to giving a warm welcome to former Quins player and current Swansea coach Mefin Davies and his men from Swansea,” said Quins team manager Steffan Thomas.

‘We will be looking to build on our performance last Sunday and for a win. This is a cup competition and we have to be bold and back ourselves. I am sure that confidence will be high in the Swansea camp after their big win last week but we feel we are a match for anyone in Carmarthen.

“I think this group may go down to the wire and bonus points could end up being important.”

Teams

Carmarthen Quins

15 Rhys Thomas; 14 Lee Williams, 13 Andrew Banfield, 12 Rheon James, 11 Jason Harries; 10 Jack Maynard, 9 Rhodri Wells; 1 Ian Jones, 2 Richard Wilkes, 3 Trystan Davies, 4 Gavin Evans, 5 Haydn Pugh, 6 Aidan Laxton, 7 James Davies, 8 Luke Joseph

Reps – Ricky Guest, Andrew Beaujean, Sion Bennett, Carwyn Jones, Connor Lloyd, Rhys Jones, Darren Daniel

Swansea – TBC

Referee – Cammy Rudkin (Scotland)

By David Williams