BEN Atkins returns from almost nine months out with a knee injury to skipper the Development XV against Brunel University tonight (7.45pm).

The 51-capped first-teamer, who has 14 tries since arriving in the summer of 2023, will lead a 26-man squad as Wednesday Night Lights returns to Old Bath Road.

He is joined in the back row by former Bath Under 18s No. 8 Darren Bold, a try-scorer at Oxford Harlequins for the U23s.

Recent Colt Tegan Strydom and dynamic young flanker Will Parsons are also in the squad.

Seb Burgess – a try-scorer in the opening pre-season friendly against Clifton – and George Bottomley, are also capable of playing in the back row.

The youthful pair are also equally adept in the engine room.

Three other options are available in the second row, led by Paddy Jackson.

The 20-year-old won his ninth first-team cap against Sale on Saturday, while Will Saunders bagged a brace in the Oxford Quins game last month.

Former London Irish Academy ace Ollie Agar is also included among 15 forwards.

There is a welcome return to action for loose-head Paddy Harris, the Cambridge University alumni with 69 first-team caps to his name.

Ex-Colt Ollie Ireland and Saturday’s first-team debutant JJ Wozniak are joined by three hookers as front row options.

They are Harry Bicknell, who came on late versus Sale, Andrich Skein and Berkshire U20s man Will Spain.

Young talent fills three-quarters

Arthur Garfield and Jack Mapletoft are the young scrum-halves tasked with getting the back-line flowing.

And they have last season’s leading first-team point-scorer Mike Cooke outside them.

Former Mini turned first-teamer Theo Pett-Ridge is also capable of playing at No. 10, or anywhere else in the three-quarters.

Powerful ball-carrier Isaac Tokura and another Berkshire U20, James Barker-Lopez, are options in midfield.

Summer signings Henry Kirwan, a starter against Sale, and Bath Uni BUCS title-winner Oli Sedgwick are among four wings with David Ajisafe and Finlay Wells.

And Ethan Bassett completes the squad having crossed the whitewash at Quins.

The Reading University student caught the eye repeatedly last term for both the Development XV and Berkshire U20s.

Entry is free for tonight’s game with food and drink on sale. Gates open at 6.15pm.

Rams Development v Brunel University

Forwards (15): Harris*, Ireland*, Wozniak*, Skein*, Bicknell*, Spain*, Agar, Jackson, Saunders, Bottomley, Burgess, Atkins ©, Parsons, Bold, Strydom

Backs (11): Garfield, Mapletoft, Cooke, Tokura, Barker-Lopez, Pett-Ridge, Kirwan, Sedgwick, Ajisafe, Wells, Bassett