Skip to content
News bet365 Sports & Betting News Join
Newcastle Red Bulls Generic
  1. RUGBY UNION
  2. RUGBY UNION NEWS

Newcastle Red Bulls v Leicester Tigers team news: Sotutu starts for hosts

Newcastle Red Bulls and Leicester Tigers go in search of their first wins of the new Prem season, as they face off at Kingston Park on Saturday night.

The Red Bulls were soundly beaten in their Prem Rugby season opener, being outclassed away at last season's champions Northampton Saints.

Meanwhile, the Tigers fell just short at home to Saracens, losing a high-scoring, entertaining contest 38-40.

Both sides will be desperate to get off the mark this season, with Saturday's game a good opportunity for points.

Newcastle Red Bulls v Leicester Tigers

The headline inclusion for the hosts is new signing Hoskins Sotutu, who moves from the bench last weekend to starting at number eight this.

One of just two changes to the squad, Sotutu was one of the Red Bulls' most high profile signings this summer.

Another of those, Werner Kok, is the other of the two changes, with the winger left out for this weekend due to a hamstring injury, being replaced by Obi Ene.

The Tigers have made four changes to the side who lost against Saracens, with Jack van Poortvliet retaining the captaincy for the trip North.

James Thompson and Orlando Bailey come into the squad, having both been on the bench last weekend, replacing Finn Carnduff and Joseph Woodward in the starting XV.

Tom Manz and Will Wand come onto the bench for the Tigers, with both Woodward and Carnduff withdrawing from the matchday squad altogether.

Newcastle Red Bulls team news

Starting XV: 15 Harrison Obatoyinbo, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Alex Hearle, 12 Chris Harris, 11 Obi Ene, 10 Brett Connon, 9 James Elliott; 1 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Elliot Millar Mills, 4 Oscar Usher, 5 Cam Jordan, 6 Max Hicks, 7 Tom Christie (c), 8 Hoskins Sotutu.

Substitutes: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 James Harper, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Ollie Leatherbarrow, 21 Sam Graham, 22 Simón Benítez Cruz, 23 Zack Henry.

Leicester Tigers team news

Starting XV: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Solomone Kata, 12 Orlando Bailey, 11 Gabriel Hamer-Webb, 10 Billy Searle, 9 Jack van Poortvliet (c); 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Samiuela Moli, 3 Joe Heyes, 4 James Thompson, 5 Cameron Henderson, 6 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Tommy Reffell, 8 Olly Cracknell.

Substitutes: 16 Corbin Thunder, 17 Tarek Haffar, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Tom Manz, 20 Joaquin Moro, 21 Tom Whiteley, 22 Will Wand, 23 Ollie Hassell-Collins.

Set as a Google Preferred Source

Related Articles

bet365 uses cookies

We use cookies to deliver a better and more personalised service. For more information, see our Cookie Policy

New to bet365? Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets Join Now

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.