Fourteen of the 19 players in the first matchday squad came up through the club’s outstanding mini and junior section as the Blue & Gold continue to build on last season’s commitment to youth as well as providing a visible pathway of progression into the senior section.

Twenty two year-old loosehead prop Richie Trew captains the side for the first time which sees only seven survivors from the XV that beat Old Alleynians 25-8 back in March in the penultimate game of last season.

Dillon Robertson starts in the centres for the first time following his return to the Queen Mary ground after spending last season at Tunbridge Wells. His last league appearance for OEs came in 2020, coming on as a replacement in the National One clash at Chinnor.

Three players - Jo Leigh, Will Davies and Prince Ncube - will make their first team debuts for the Blue and Gold. Leigh returns to the club from National League side Lincoln and Davies arrives from Charlton Park's 1st XV, while last season’s leading try scorers Sam Scott, Luke Cooper and Cam Haimes all start.

Assistant coach Matin Hennessy admitted that this week’s selection meeting was one of the toughest he could remember. “It’s been a really good pre-season and we’ve had excellent numbers at training,” he said. “We are looking to run two sides this season and all the players have trained well and bought into what we are trying to achieve, so selection has been incredibly difficult.

“We have real competition for places in most positions, and some players will be justifiably upset at not making the side. But it’s a good problem for the coaches to have. We’ve told the players to keep working hard and do what they are doing and they will get their chance. We used 49 players last season, so chances will come. Then it’s up to the players to keep the shirt.”

Old Elthamians v Old Alleynians kicks off at 2pm at the Queen Mary University Ground, Perry Street, Chislehurst.

OEs team to play Old Alleynians II

1 Richie Trew (capt)
2 Luke Kemp 
3 Lee Smith
4 Tom Elliott
5 Sam Ryan
6 Luke Cooper
7 Pari Warren
8 Reis Norman
9 Will Davies
10 Austin Emmerson
11 Sam Scott
12 Dillon Robertson
13 Joe Leigh
14 George Robinson
15 Cam Haimes

16 Luke White
17 Joe Watkins
18 Prince Ncube
19 Marc Beaumont