Confirmed Squad - Jeff Burke, Rich Zabrocki, Brendan Thomas, Chris Brown, Ben Silk, Stephen Wood, Will Evans, Ross Grasper, Josh Barnes, Nick Moss, Gus Graham, Stevie Thompson, Stewart Wilson, Neil Spence, Tommy Wilson, Ian Wood, Andy Finn, Justin Taylor, Jonny Lowes, John Watson, Jack Pellew, Ricky Humble

Awaiting Confirmation from - Ryan Gibson, Dylan Gittins, Francis Eze, Sean Isherwood, David Bowman, Shaun O'Connell, Alex Doglas, Andy Gardiner, Alan Pitchford, Gareth Davies, Will Darragh, Rhys Gibbons, Rob Reid, Jamie Humble, Luke Mitchell, Rich Mitchell, Isaac Robinson, James Loraine, Lex Leonard and Paddy Goodings.

So if you are yet to secure your place for the fixture please get in touch with Magnus Leask or Jack Pellew. 22 confirmed players but we were hoping for 30 after all it is a 3/4s fixture.

The club have invested a lot of time in our 3/4's during the off season contacting players to ensure the club puts out four sides more often than not. The club continues to buck recent trends of reduced teams in the north east but it doesn't just happen. People like Andy Croft, JP Addison, Jack Pellew and Stevie Thompson are unsung heroes at the club. Taking time out of their busy week to chase players to put the shirt on. Without their efforts we would perhaps just be a three team club.

I am looking forward to seeing Jeff Burke have a go at loose head after stating a desire to try and force his way up the teams this season. The same could be said for Brendan Thomas who should be looking to kick on and apply pressure to the clubs regular first team props - he is certainly capable of playing that high.

It will also be a great fixture for our senior colts to feature - the likes of Ryan Gibson and David Bowman have trained throughout pre season with the men's section. David excelled in recent sevens competitions with his pace and ability to run all day long. Whist Ryan perhaps didn't enjoy the space these tournaments provided he showed great contact skills against grown men.

The boys have had a great pre season attending RFU run sevens events which I witnessed first hand. It was fantastic to see the boys attend every event run, socialise after the matches and form a great spirit during tough fixtures against other clubs first string sides at times. These boys optimise the clubs theme of Rugby for all, rugby for life.

Looking forward to Friday boys - Up the Vos !