LEGENDARY leader Robbie Stapley will make his final appearance at Old Bath Road in tomorrow’s National One clash with high-flying Rosslyn Park (3pm).
Rams’ record first-team try-scorer – who has racked up an incredible 105 in 244 appearances across two stints at the club – will go for one final time at OBR as his side aim to bounce back from last Friday’s reverse at champions Richmond.
Records abound for Robbie, who scored a club-best 27 tries in one season in 2011/12, ahead of his last home dance, the former captain who led his side into National One linking up with Dan Swain in the engine room.
Of the eight changes from the Richmond defeat, a trio come in the front row as Bath loanees Ioan Emanuel and Jasper Spandler are joined by tight-head Ryan Lomas.
With Nile Dacres and Harry Stone both suffering serious injuries last time out, skipper Max Hayman switches to the blind-side for the first time in a starting role, the dynamic tackling demon Mikey Duda on the other flank as James McRae completes the pack.
Ollie Hodgson will look to extend his try-scoring run to four matches at scrum-half, while stand-off Fraser Honey remains unbowed having celebrated a 50th consecutive appearance at The RAG.
Inside centre Joe Pannese is another youngster to have caught the eye this term, partnered in midfield by former Newbury talent Oli Rhoads with Solodrau Radianirova and Axel Kalling-Smith on Army and Sweden duty respectively.
Jack Rampton, who collected a maiden first-team try under the Friday Night London lights, again starts on the right flank, with Tomek Pozniak recalled on the left and leading try-scorer Zach Clow continuing his perfect appearance record at full-back.
Front row cover is provided by props Liam Bishop and Paddy Harris, with Ben Atkins and the returning Connor Stapley making it a quartet of forwards on the bench as the latter makes an incredible return from what seemed a season-ending triple leg fracture back on the opening day.
Versatile Scotsman Andrew Lamb completes the squad, with Morgan MacRae and Nat Arnold ready to step up as travelling reserves in case of any last-minute injuries.
Rams Team v Rosslyn Park
(15-9, 1-8) Clow, Rampton, Rhoads, Pannese, Pozniak, Honey, Hodgson; Emanuel, Spandler, Lomas, R Stapley, Swain, Hayman ©, Duda, McRae
Replacements: Bishop, Harris, Atkins, C Stapley, Lamb
Travelling Reserves: MacRae, Arnold
For tickets for what should be a terrific afternoon, click here