FOUR of the summer signings made by Steve Diamond start for Worcester Warriors in their Gallagher Premiership opener at London Irish.
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Cameron Neild, who joined form Sale Sharks in the summer, will captain the side on debut as he takes the place of an injured Ted Hill.
Russia international loosehead Valeriy Morozov and Italy hooker Hame Faiva, who have arrived from Bath Rugby and Benetton Rugby respectively, will pack down in the front row with Fergus Lee-Warner, who has joined from Western Force, making his Premiership debut at blindside flanker.
Hooker Curtis Langdon is named amongst the replacements.
Scotland and British and Irish Lion Duhan van der Merwe misses out with a quadriceps injury and as reported yesterday, Fin Smith is out with a broken jaw. Billy Searle starts at fly-half.
There is no place in the squad for the other new signings; Renato Giammarioli or Santiago Medrano (away with Argentina).
Warriors | 15 Jamie Shillcock, 14 Perry Humphreys, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Alex Hearle, 10 Billy Searle, 9 Gareth Simpson, 1 Valeriy Morozov, 2 Hame Faiva, 3 Murray McCallum, 4 Joe Batley, 5 Andrew Kitchener, 6 Fergus Lee-Warner, 7 Cameron Neild (C), 8 Matt Kvesic.
Replacements | 16 Curtis Langdon, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Jay Tyack, 19 Graham Kitchener, 20 Tom Dodd, 21 Will Chudley, 22 Owen Williams, 23 Noah Heward.
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