Rotherham Titans: Argentina international Estelles set for debut

Centre Juan Pablo Estelles will start for the Titans at Clifton Lane this afternoon after arriving on loan from Northampton Saints.

Estelles – who played on the wing in Argentina’s 27-14 defeat at Twickenham – will be joined in the Titans side by fellow Saints, winger Tom Collins and flanker Lewis Ludlam.

Titans head coach Justin Burnell has arranged loan deals with other Premiership outfits Leicester Tigers, Worcester Warriors and Newcastle Falcons.

Tigers’ Oli Bryant will start at centre against Munster with Worcester’s Wilhelm van der Sluys among the replacements with hooker Santiago Socino – younger brother of former Titans favourite Juan Pablo.

Burnell was understandably delighted to boost his squad numbers with the new additions ahead of the B&I Cup tie.

He said: “I’m very grateful to the Premiership clubs who have helped us.

“These boys have been training with us this week and as we still have injuries and are a small squad. It’s good to have this quality.

“Munster A do well in the British and Irish Cup. They’ll be raring to go.

“This competition gives me the opportunity to have a look at some of our other players such as Joe Hutchinson and Ian Williams, who’re props, and centre Dan Kelly, a centre, from Sheffield University.

The Titans will be skippered by hooker Joe Graham and another former Yorkshire Carnegie player, scrum half Matt Dudman, returns to the side and partners Caolan Ryan at half back.

Burnell reacted with sadness following this week’s announcement that his former club London Welsh,is going into liquidation and faces a deduction of 20 points which may result in relegation from the Championship.

“London Welsh are a great club and they don’t deserve to be in this mess,” he said. “There are many good people down there and I really feel for the members and players.”

Rotherham Titans: Goodwin, Tai, Estelles, Bryant, Collins, Ryan, Dudman, Hutchinson, Graham, Herriott, Salmon, Hicks, Van Velze, Ludlam, Grange.

Replacements: Socino, Tom Williams, Ian Williams, Normandale, MacDonald, Walsh, Kelly.