TEAM NEWS: UNDER 23s NAME 16 FOR ABBEY FESTIVAL

HEAD Coach Dave Cox has named a strong 16-man squad for this evening’s Under 23s 10-a-side festival at Reading Abbey.

Rams will go up against the hosts, Henley Hawks, Bracknell and Reading at Rosehill.

And the squad features plenty of former title-winning Colts, county age group aces and BUCS Super Rugby Swansea University returnee Cian Tappan.

The South African is one of nine forwards picked alongside the impressive Seb Burgess, who scored twice for the Development against Royal Air Force last Wednesday.

A third powerful No. 8, Reading University’s Olly Marsh, scored for Berkshire Under 20s in their 33-29 victory against Dorset & Wilts recently.

Second row Max Hughes also featured in the County Championship success.

And fellow engine room power comes in the form of ex-Bath Under 18 Stan Muigai, Will Burrows and Jacob Kyte, the trio regulars for the Development XV.

The hookers are previous OBB Division One Colts champions Ant Jessett and Josh Jones.

Another Berkshire U20, Ollie Morgan, is the scrum-half.

Stand-off Matt Cox is another two-time Colts title-winner, with Theo Pett-Ridge the same.

The latter can play anywhere across the three-quarters.

Wrecking ball centre Isaac Tokura has been causing damage for the Development XV, with the pacy trio of Llyr Jones, Alec Formela and Finlay Wells completing the squad.

The action kicks off at 7.15pm with entry free and food and drink on sale.

Rams Under 23s squad @ Reading Abbey Festival

Forwards (9): Burgess, Burrows, Hughes, Jessett, Jones, Kyte, Marsh, Muigai, Tappan

Backs (7): Cox, Formela, Jones, Morgan, Pett-Ridge, Tokura, Wells