ROBBIE Stapley steps into the second row and takes over the captaincy as Rams make six changes for their top-of-the-table floodlit home clash with Richmond tonight (7.45pm).

The club’s record try-scorer has enjoyed a fabulous start to the campaign with six tries in 11 games, taking his overall tally to an unrivalled 105 in 236.

Stapley will be joined by the in-form Dan Swain in the second row, prop changes seeing Paddy Harris and James Baker go from the start this week.

Morgan MacRae makes his first start at hooker, while Harry Stone comes in on the blind-side flank to join Tom Vooght and No. 8 James McRae in the back row.

There are two alterations in the three-quarters as Harlequins loanee Jake Murray steps off the bench to take the scrum-half jersey, Andrew Lamb joining MacRae in making a first start at full-back.

This switch leads Zach Clow onto the right wing, with the remainder of the back line remaining unaltered – Fraser Honey at fly-half, Rowan Grundy and Army ace Solodrau Radianirova, a try-scorer in the past two games, in the centres, and Sweden captain Axel Kalling-Smith completing the side out wide.

Ant Marris and Ryan Lomas are the prop replacements, joined on the bench by a trio of performers set for their first outings of the season.

Fit-again Ben Atkins will be out to make his mark following a broken ankle at Chinnor back in August, while fellow back row Mikey Duda scored on debut against Richmond last season and has been outstanding for the Development XV this term.

The squad is completed by Hartpury loanee Kyle McGhie, the Scotsman primarily a scrum-half but capable of playing anywhere among the three-quarters.

Five travelling reserves are named in the form of hooker Brad Clements, second row Liam Elston, scrum-half Ollie Cole, centre Joe Pannese and wing Tomek Pozniak.

Rams Team v Richmond

(15-9, 1-8) Lamb, Clow, Radianirova, Grundy, Kalling-Smith, Honey, Murray; Harris, MacRae, Baker, Stapley ©, Swain, Stone, Vooght, McRae

Replacements: Marris, Lomas, Atkins, Duda, McGhie

Travelling Reserves: Clements, Elston, Cole, Pozniak, Pannese

*Due to an ongoing disciplinary process following the match against Blackheath, Max Hayman is unavailable for selection for this fixture.

When we have details of the disciplinary outcome we will update supporters.

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