ENGLAND international Mouritz Botha, former USA captain Todd Clever and England Sevens flyer Marcus Watson will all make their Newcastle Falcons debut in Friday night’s Kings of the North Cup game with Leicester Tigers at Kingston Park.
Former Saracens forward Botha will partner Scottish international Scott MacLeod in the second row, while Clever will join Richard Mayhew and club captain Will Welch at the base of the scrum.
Newcastle’s front row will see former Scotland hooker Scott Lawson joined by props Scott Wilson and Bobby Vickers.
Watson is Falcons’ third debutant, and he will start at full-back as he makes his first foray back into the 15-man game following his switch to the sevens format in 2010.
Elsewhere in the backs, former Yarm School pupil Zach Kibirige makes his first appearance of the season, and will be joined on the opposite wing by England Youth Sevens player Dan Marshall.
After impressing in his first outing for the club last weekend, Papua New Guinean Jason Tali joins Adam Powell in the centres.
Falcons will be attempting to extract revenge for last weekend’s 36-19 defeat to Leicester at Welford Road.
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