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Exeter Chiefs have named a record eight North American internationals in their match day squad to take on Saracens in this week’s featured Premier 15s match. Saracens travel to Sandy Park unbeaten but the home side are adapting quickly to life in the top flight.
While Saturday sees the Premier 15s returning to action it is in a partial capacity with two rescheduled games taking place. The second match between Gloucester-Hartpury and Durham Sharks does not involve Americas players.
After a frustrating first half of the campaign, Olivia DeMerchant gets her second start of the season at loosehead prop for Exeter. She is joined in the tight five by fellow Canadians Emily Tuttosi and McKinley Hunt, wearing the No2 and No5 shirts respectively. Taylor Black continues to run out at flyhalf.
The Eagles contribute four players. Winger Jennine Duncan’s season is in doubt due to injury but Kate Zackary and Gabby Cantorna start at openside flanker and inside center. Another flanker Rachel Johnson and hooker Joanna Kitlinski are each set to make their club debuts as replacements.
For Saracens there is no sign of recent arrivals Mackenzie Carson, Emma Taylor, or Alysha Corrigan, but there is one Canadian in the lineup. Sophie de Goede starts at her preferred No8 position amidst a plethora of England internationals.
Kickoff is set for 1:30pm local time, 8:30am Eastern, 5:30am Pacific. Live streams will be available on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and the Premier 15s website.
EXETER CHIEFS
1 Olivia DeMerchant, 2 Emily Tuttosi, 3 Sachiko Kato, 4 Poppy Leitch, 5 McKinley Hunt, 6 Ebony Jefferies, 7 Kate Zackary, 8 Linde van der Velden (capt.), 9 Flo Robinson, 10 Taylor Black, 11 Garnet Mackinder, 12 Gabby Cantorna, 13 Lauren Cattell, 14 Lottie Holland, 15 Merryn Doidge
Replacements: 16 Joanna Kitlinski, 17 Laura Delgado, 18 Michaella Roberts, 19 Alex Powell, 20 Rachel Johnson, 21 Meg Davies, 22 Laura Sheehan, 23 Niamh Terry
SARACENS
1 Rochelle Clarke, 2 May Campbell, 3 Kelsey Clifford, 4 Georgia Evans, 5 Tamara Taylor, 6 Vicky Fleetwood, 7 Marlie Packer, 8 Sophie de Goede, 9 Eloise Hayward, 10 Holly Aitchison, 11 Lotte Clapp (capt.), 12 Chantelle Miell, 13 Hannah Casey, 14 Deborah Fleming, 15 Sarah McKenna
Replacements: 16 Jodie Rettie, 17 Donna Rose, 18 Alex Zounek, 19 Rosie Galligan, 20 Poppy Cleall, 21 Emma Swords, 22 Cara Wardle, 23 Emma Uren
