Teignmouth's Jamie Rudkin among new faces in Devon side
Devon's 22-man squad for tonight's friendly against the Navy at Devonport Services (7.15pm) contains a handful of unfamiliar faces.
Teignmouth's Will Sowden, close to 30 tries in league action this season, is included, as is club-mate Jamie Rudkin.
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Flanker Rudkin was starring for National League side Weston last season, when he was their leading try scorer with 17, but has dropped down a couple of levels after taking a job in Newton Abbot.
Highly-rated Max Venables from Saltash is poised to start at full-back, with Moorlands Lane colleague Joe Skinnard inside him at centre.
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One name which will not mean much to most rugby watchers in Devon is that of Tom Viljoen, one of two scrum-halves in the squad. The South African-born player turns out for Topsham when he can fit in games around his work in the community rugby department at Exeter Chiefs.
"Basically, Tom came down here to go to university and stayed," said his Topsham coach Colin Milkins. "To be honest he is in a different class at Topsham's level and you can see he would be at home in much better company, which is why I recommended him.
"Tom just wants to play for fun, so he stays with us although he is chuffed to have been asked to play for Devon."
Devon's attention has been occupied by the Under-20 County Championship until now, which has meant the senior side being put on the back burner.
With the Tamar Cup clash against Cornwall looming, and the Bill Beaumont County Championship a further month away, Devon have to start making team plans.
Team manager Gareth Jones has canvassed around the clubs in Devon and has produced a 22-man squad for the game.
Devon: M Venables (Saltash), J Bess (Sidmouth), J Skinnard (Saltash), M Williamson (University of Plymouth), W Sowden (Teignmouth), T Whelan (Sidmouth), A Jeffrey, R Morris (both Torquay), J Perry, J Pyne (both Sidmouth), S Turner (Okehampton), S Richardson (Taunton), J Rudkin (Teignmouth), J Harris (Brixham), G Espin (Okehampton), T Viljoen (Topsham), S Thomas (Brixham), S Meadham (Sidmoputh), M Manton (Taunton), S Roberts (Barnstaple), A Smith (Torquay).
Cornish All Blacks forward Ben Hilton will again captain Cornwall in this season's County Championship campaign. His appointment was announced at a squad training session at Truro College on Monday as Cornwall continued their preparations for their annual assault on the Twickenham final.
Hilton led Cornwall last season, when they just missed out on a place in the final. He said: "I feel very proud to have been given the opportunity for the second consecutive year."
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