The powerful second row – who last played against Dorking A in January last year – has battled back from a serious calf issue to take his place in the 21-man squad for what should be an entertaining trip to Iffley Road.
The South African is one of 11 forwards named in the squad, with the ever-improving Callum Pitfield and young Ollie McGlennon the other options in the engine room.
Harry Bicknell is the joint leading try-scorer for the Development XV so far this term, the hooker having touched down four times in five appearances, and he is joined by props Elio Mandozzi, Nick Barry, Archie Downing and Thomas Tran in the front row – the latter duo both Reading University students.
Rounding out the pack options are Uni skipper Harry Judd and the explosive young duo of Jedd Paine and Jack Rushton.
Youth and experience in backs
One of last year’s Colts, Louis Roumignac, is likely to start at scrum-half, with Centaurs’ player-coach Jack Gaylor also capable of playing at No. 9 or stand-off.
Other fly-half options include another Uni ace, James Gilman, and four-time former Oxford Blue Tom Humberstone, the latter holding the record for most points in a Varsity game.
Humberstone has also regularly featured at inside centre, with the likes of teenager Theo Pett-Ridge and Reading University debutant George Tomlinson also vying for a starting slot in midfield alongside Isaac Tokura and last week’s first-team National One try-scorer Oli Rhoads.
The squad is rounded out by the speedy Alex Mannhardt and ball-playing full-back Nat Arnold.
Development XV @ Oxford University
* – Front row
Forwards: Barry*, Bicknell*, Downing*, Judd, Mandozzi*, McGlennon, Paine, Pitfield, Rushton, Thomson, Tran*
Backs: Arnold, Gaylor, Gilman, Humberstone, Mannhardt, Pett-Ridge, Rhoads, Roumignac, Tokura, Wilkinson
