RUGBY UNION: It will be a new look Ipswich rugby team to start the new season this weekend away at Harlow.Seven newcomers will making their debuts tomorrow – four in the backs and three in the forwards.

RUGBY UNION

IT will be a new look Ipswich rugby team to start the new season this weekend away at Harlow.

Seven newcomers will making their debuts tomorrow – four in the backs and three in the forwards. At the same time at least eight of last season's first team squad are unavailable for a variety of reasons.

Director of rugby Mike Hancock is highly encouraged by the number of new players arriving at the club.

"When everyone is available it gives us plenty of selection options in order to make a strong challenge this season," he said.

Direct Motorline sponsored Ipswich had been due to travel to Letchworth tomorrow for the opening game in the London League Division Two North. However in the Powergen Cup last weekend Letchworth narrowly defeated Harlow by 20 points to 19 at Harlow and have therefore qualified for the second round of the cup tomorrow.

But it means that Harlow who are from the London League Division One were left without a fixture and agreed to host Ipswich in a friendly match.

"It gives us the perfect opportunity to have a good strong work out and see how the newcomers perform in a match situation before our first league game which will now be at home to Diss in a weeks time," said Hancock.

For the Harlow visit Ipswich have named a new half back pairing to make their debuts. Scrum-half Dominic Long, who was previously at Ipswich as a Colt has been playing recently at Felixstowe and at fly-half Alex Coker, a former Framlingham College pupil.

In the centre making his first senior appearance will be former St Joseph's College schoolboy Nick Barrett and on the right wing will be another debut maker Ollie Hall, son of veteran Ipswich prop Nick Hall.

The debutants in the Ipswich pack will be prop forward Matt Lary Norwich Crusaders, Martin Holland at open-side wing forward and Andrew Skipper at blind side flank forward. Holland was previously a product of the Ipswich Youth system but since playing for the colts has been working away and only recently returned to his home town.

Skipper, an Australian, has joined the club this season and will also be working as the new youth development officer.

Second row Adrian Price is the Ipswich team captain for the coming season.

There is also another open trial game being staged at Humber Doucy Lane tomorrow afternoon (Sat). Four 20-minute sessions will be organised for potential second and third team players and any new players wishing to join the club will be made welcome.

Anyone turning up with boots for a run out is asked to report to team manager John Searle from 2pm.

Harlow v Ipswich

Ipswich: Williams, Reeve, Lary, Price, Briggenshaw, Skipper, Holland, Murphy, Long, Coker, Brotherton, Barrett, Lintott, Hall, Harding.