Match Preview: Plymouth Albion v Nottingham

Plymouth Albion v Nottingham

British and Irish Cup, Pool 4, Friday 11 October 2013 (kick-off 7.45pm)

James Shanahan has named himself in Plymouth Albion's starting line-up for their opening game in the British and Irish Cup at Brickfields on Friday evening.

The head coach is one of a number of changes as Albion embark on their 2013-14 British and Irish Cup journey with their opening Pool 4 game against Nottingham on Friday 11 October.

Along with Shanahan, Louis Messer, Jack Arnott and Lewis Warner all make their first appearances of the season.

Albion have been pooled with fellow RFU Championship side Nottingham, Ireland's Munster "A" team - the 20011/12 winners - and Stirling County from the Scottish Premiership.

The round robin pool stage sees each team play one another home and away over six weekends between now and January. There are 24 teams in total, drawn from the second tiers of English, Welsh and Scottish rugby plus the second teams of four Irish provincial sides.

The six pools of four will be followed by a knock-out stage consisting of quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final played at the end of May.

Plymouth Albion: 15 Louis Messer, 14 Jack Arnott, 13 Chris Elder, 12 Pale Nonu, 11 Lewis Warner, 10 James Shanahan, 9 Paul Rowley, 1 Ben Rogers, 2 Gareth Evans, 3 Matt Shields, 4 Ien Ascroft-Leigh, 5 Dan Williams, 6 Rob Langley, 7 Sam Matavesi, 8 Rhys Oakley capt Reps; 16 Davy McGregor, 17 Tom Harrison, 18 Harrison Tovey, 19 Eoghan Grace, 20 Declan Cusack, 21 Ruairi Cushion, 22 Heath Stevens

See more at: http://www.plymouthalbion.com