AUSTRALIAN international Curtis Rona looks set to make his London Irish debut during the club's only pre-season friendly at Munster tomorrow (Friday) night.
The 27-year-old centre – who joined from the New South Waratahs in the summer – is part of a 29-man squad which will compete for the Jack Wakefield Memorial Trophy, which is contested on each occasion London Irish play an Irish province in a pre-season match.
The trophy is named in honour of a young London Irish supporter who passed away in 2005.
Exiles will be captained by second row duo Franco van der Merwe and Barney Maddison at Irish Independent Park, with youngsters Chunya Munga and Sam Collingridge also expected to be given game time in the boiler room.
In the front row, last season's top try-scorer Dave Porecki and Ross McMillan – who has been signed on a short-term contract as cover for the Rugby World Cup – will rotate at hooker, with Harry Elrington, new signing Will Goodrick-Clarke, Lovejoy Chawatama and Patric Cilliers the four props.
Conor Gilsenan and Scottish international Blair Cowan are the two open-side flankers, with recent acquisition George Nott and Academy star Ben Donnell on the other side of the back row.
The pack is rounded out with two No. 8s in Matt Rogerson and Izaiha Moore-Aione.
Rory Brand and Scott Steele will get game time at scrum-half, with Stephen Myler and Jacob Atkins at 10.
Terence Hepetema and Matt Williams are named at inside centre, with Rona and Brendan Macken outside them.
Declan Kidney will take three wings across the Irish sea, with exciting youngsters Ben Loader and Ollie Hassell-Collins joined by long-serving Tom Fowlie.
Lastly, Tom Parton – who impressed at the start of last season before a long-term knee injury put paid to his campaign – will return to action along with Will Partington at full-back.
Kick-off is at 7.30pm, with Exiles then beginning their competitive season with a Premiership Rugby Cup trip to Gloucester the following Saturday.
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