Old Priorians have named their squad to play Belsize Park in the first round of the Regional 2 Thames Promotion Playoff, a 2pm kick off at Grasshoppers Rugby Club on Saturday 18th April.

OPs make four changes to the starting XV that lost 33-27 to Harpenden in the final round of league fixtures last Saturday.

In come David Howe and Adam Gurdikyan to the front row at loosehead and hooker, with Funbi Osuntoki making the shift to tighthead prop. Maynard Ahukanna and Mishka Fibbens line up in the second row, the back row unchanged as Jack Wheeler, Jordan Porteous and captain Cathal Sheehan all start.

Rory Gaffney is scrum half with Will Taylor returning at fly half ; no changes in the centre with Barney Morris and Josh Chippendale, as James Paxman comes up from the bench to replace Ethan Wetherell on the wing while Timmy Oyinlola remains incumbent on the other. Charlie Harte comes in for Michael Jobling at full back.

On the bench are Ed Moss, Kimen Nyam and Jared Braddock.

1. David Howe
2. Adam Gurdikyan
3. Funbi Osuntoki
4. Maynard Ahukanna
5. Mishka Fibbens
6. Jack Wheeler
7. Jordan Porteous
8. Cathal Sheehan (c)
9. Rory Gaffney
10. Will Taylor
11. James Paxman
12. Barney Morris
13. Josh Chippendale
14. Timmy Oyinlola
15. Charlie Harte
16. Ed Moss
17. Kimen Nyam
18. Jared Braddock

Match Facts

- Recent Form : OPRFC - WWWWL / Belsize Park - WWLLL

- The thirteenth meeting between the two sides. Priorians hold the lead in the head to head, with eight wins to Belsize's four. The average full time score is 29-24 to OPRFC

- The winner of this match will face the winner of Beaconsfield v Aylesbury ; if Beaconsfield win, they will have home advantage (due to their higher seeding), if Aylesbury win, OPs or Belsize will have home advantage in the next round

- Maynard Ahukanna will edge ahead of Guy Djedje to become the second most capped OPs player of all time (206) and the most capped forward in club history

- Cathal Sheehan will remain the only player to have taken some part in every 1st XV fixture in the 2025/26 season

- Of the eighteen person squad, fourteen came through St Benedict's School rugby development