CHAMPIONSHIP XV coaches Martin Haag and Kevin Maggs have confirmed their starting line-up ahead of tomorrow’s fixture against Canada at Worcester’s Sixways (3.15pm).

Warriors’ lock and skipper skipper James Percival and prop Ryan Bower are both in the starting line-up, while scrum-half Jonny Arr is one of the replacements.

In the backline, Moseley have strong centre representation in Will Owen and Greg King, flanked by Rotherham’s Michael Keating and Miles Mantella of London Scottish on the wings. Jack Tovey starts at full-back, while Lawrence Rayner is selected at fly-half and Tom Kessell completes the backs at scrum-half.

Up front, Greene King IPA Championship top try-scorer Mark Bright is selected to start at number eight with Marco Mama and Nick Fenton-Wells at flanker.

Percival, who has completed all but 10 minutes of Warriors’ four league matches this season, is at lock, alongside Darren Barry, while Bower starts at tight-head and is joined in the front row by Tom Cruse and Michael Holford.

“It’s a well-balanced team” said head coach Haag. “You’ve got big, physical players in there and then quick, dynamic line runners who can keep the ball moving around the park.

“There is also a nice blend of experienced heads and younger guys with a thirst to play. Overall, I’m really pleased with where we are.

“We want to go out there and express ourselves. This is a unique opportunity for the guys and I’ve given them the license to go play and enjoy it. Hopefully that will make for a good spectacle for those in the crowd as well.”

Nottingham’s Dan Mugford makes an early exit from the Championship XV due to injury. He is replaced by Cornish Pirates fly-half Keiran Hallet who joins the team having been released by head coach Ian Davies.

“We’re obviously disappointed to have lost Dan but, as ever with these things, player welfare is priority,” said Haag.

Championship XV: Tovey (Bristol); Keating (Rotherham Titans), King (Moseley), Owen (Moseley), Mantella (London Scottish); Rayner (Plymouth Albion), Kessell (Cornish Pirates); Bower (Worcester Warriors), Cruse (Rotherham Titans), Holford (Nottingham), Percival (Worcester Warriors), Barry (Cornish Pirates), Mama (Bristol), Fenton-Wells (Bedford Blues), Bright (London Scottish) Replacements: Clare (Bedford Blues), Imiolek (Yorkshire Carnegie), Maidment (London Scottish), Phillips (London Scottish), Burrows (Yorkshire Carnegie), Arr (Worcester), Hallet (Cornish Pirates), Flockhart (Doncaster Knights).