Rugby: Tonga flanker joins Chinnor

From the archive, first published Saturday 11th Feb 2006.

CHINNOR have signed Tonga international flanker Rodney Mahe to boost their South West 1 promotion bid.

And Mahe, a try scorer in Tonga's victory over Oxford University in November, will make his debut in tomorrow's home game with Chippenham (2.30pm).

He also played against France later that month and received a seven-day IRB suspension after punching fly half Yann Delaigue.

Chinnor coach John Brodley said: "Rodney was a triallist at Pertemps Bees in National 1.

"He played one game and was on the bench a couple of times, but didn't quite make it into their set up.

"He is a genuine No 7, which was exactly what we were looking for.

"I'm expecting Rodney to lift the team in the same way that flanker Mike Cook did before being forced to retire with a shoulder injury."

Simon Matthews comes in for the unavailable Joe Winpenny at loose-head prop.

Oxford Harlequins will look to build on their cup victory over Chinnor when they host Clevedon.

Prop Tom Chapman is unavailable so Gerry Fourie is set to fill in, with Dave Needham taking over the hooking duties.

Flanker Jamie Cope takes over the captaincy from the absent Andy Noyce and Jez Tanner returns to the wing.

Kicker Mitch Burton is fit enough to start at full back as Henley Hawks visit Barking in National 2.

Adam Slade shifts to the wing and Chaska Loubers moves to his usual position of outside centre.

James Gaunt and Matt Britton come in at scrum half and right wing, while Mark Douglas replaces Jon Tenconi at open side flanker.

Witney hope to channel their frustration when they travel to Stow-on-the-Wold in Southern Counties North.

They are smarting after Amersham & Chiltern successfully claimed two points when their clash at Hailey Road was frozen off.

Flanker Will Worrall replaces Martin Lyall.

With regular scrum half Steve Risbridger already out, Bicester are sweating on the fitness of stand-in Dickie Walsh for their BB&O Premier Division home clash with Littlemore.

Hooker Martin Ewins and winger Paul Leverton are also unavailable.

Former Oxford Harlequins prop Lee Donnelly joins the exodus from Horspath Road to make his debut for Gosford All Blacks at high-flying Milton Keynes.

Gosford are hit by injuries and unavailability, but Alex Webb returns at centre.

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