Exiles head coach Lyn Jones makes one change to the starting line up that beat Sale Sharks 29-19 in Round 4 at the Salford City Stadium – a result that saw Welsh back up their 25-24 win over Exeter Chiefs last time out at the Kassam.
Seb Jewell comes into the side at full back for his first competitive start of the season, with Tom Arscott moving to the wing in place of Phil MacKenzie. The Canadian international is named among the replacements.
The only other change to Welsh’s match-day 23 sees back row forward Alfie To’oala restored to the bench in place of Ed Williamson.
Among the other replacements is scrum half Nick Runciman, who began his career at Gloucester before spending three seasons at London Welsh. He re-joined the Cherry & Whites in 2011 for a season before returning to the Exiles in the summer.
Welsh will gladly take a repeat of the last time the two sides met, at Kingsholm in a pre-season in August 2011. The Exiles came out on top, 24-23, thanks to tries from Mike Powell, Vili Ma’asi and a late effort from Rob Lewis, with Gordon kicking the winning conversion.
It’s more than 14 years since London Welsh and Gloucester faced each other in a competitive match, when the sides crossed paths in the 4th Round of the Tetley’s Bitter Cup at Old Deer Park on January 3, 1998. Gloucester running out 34-18 winners.
London Welsh: 15. Seb Jewell, 14.Tom Arscott, 13. Sonny Parker*, 12. Hudson Tonga’uiha*, 11. Nick Scott, 10. Gordon Ross*, 9. Tyson Keats, 1. Frank Montanella*, 2. Neil Briggs, 3. Paulica Ion*, 4 Jonathan Mills ©, 5. Matt Corker, 6. Daniel Browne, 7. Michael Hills, 8. Ed Jackson.
Replacements: 16. Dan George, 17. Tom Bristow, 18. Arthur Joly, 19. Kirill Kulemin*, Alfie To’oala*, 21. Nick Runciman, 22. Ryan Davis, 23. Phil MacKenzie*.
* Denotes full international
