Estellés set for senior Northampton debut

Argentine dual-international Juan Pablo Estellés has been named on the bench for Northampton Saints as they travel to Kingston Park to play Newcastle Falcons in the first round of the Anglo-Welsh Cup on Saturday. Capped at both 7s and XVs, the outside back was part of Argentina’s team at the 2016 Olympic Games and moved to England to take up a short-term contract with Saints immediately afterwards. This will be his first senior appearance for the club having made several for the reserve grade side.

The Anglo-Welsh Cup (previously LV= Cup) is an annual competition between the Welsh regions of the Guinness Pro 12 and English clubs in the Aviva Premiership. While clubs typically do not field their strongest sides during the opening rounds, it is considered a step above the Aviva ‘A’ league matches that are largely contested by fringe reserve grade and academy players. A mix of first choice players needing more game time and top academy talent makes the Anglo-Welsh Cup a useful stepping stone between ‘A’ level and the Premiership.

Taking the field for Saints in the match against Newcastle are three full internationals including Fijian second row Api Ratuniyarawa and England caps Paul Hill and Luther Burrell, with another in scrumhalf Lee Dickson joining Estellés on the bench. The Falcons have also opted to field a strong team with five internationals including one-time All Black Mike Delany in the starting lineup and two more on the bench. PRO Rugby export Dom Waldouck has been named in the Falcons reserves.

NEWCASTLE FALCONS
1 Sam Lockwood 2 Ben Sowrey 3 David Wilson 4 Will Witty 5 Andrew Davidson 6 Allister Hogg 7 Tyrone Holmes 8 Callum Chick 9 Micky Young 10 Mike Delany 11 Sinoti Sinoti 12 Craig Willis 13 Fred Burdon 14 Marcus Watson 15 Alex Tait (capt.)

16 Scott Lawson 17 Rob Vickers 18 Jon Welsh 19 Glen Young 20 Josh Chisanga 21 Sam Egerton 22 Joel Hodgson 23 Dominic Waldouck

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS
1 Ethan Waller 2 Charlie Clare 3 Paul Hill 4 Api Ratuniyarawa 5 Christian Day (capt.) 6 Jordan Onojaife 7 Jamie Gibson 8 Lewis Ludlam 9 Tom Kessell 10 Sam Olver 11 Tom Collins 12 Rory Hutchinson 13 Luther Burrell 14 Howard Packman 15 James Wilson

16 James Fish 17 Matt Beesley 18 Gareth Denman 19 Alex Moon 20 Devante Onojaife 21 Lee Dickson 22 Juan Pablo Estellés 23 Jamie Elliott