Ross retains place in side

When the side signed Gavin Henson, Ross admitted he feared he would play more than a supporting role in London Welsh’s first season in the Premiership, but injury to the Wales and British and Irish Lions cap  re-opened the door and at  34 Ross is back among the  English elite.

The fly-half has played for Leeds and Saracens in the top flight, and tonight he is joined at half-back by ex-Aironi scrum-half Tyson Keats, and leads a back line featuring internationalists Sonny Parker, Hudson Tonga’uiha and Phil Mackenzie. London Welsh are captained by Jonathan Mills as they seek to bounce back from a bruising opening-day defeat by Leicester and claim a first league win.

Meanwhile, Harlequins’ in- demand fly-half Nick Evans wants a swift resolution to contract negotiations as he mulls over lucrative offers from clubs in France and Japan.

The former All Black’s five-year spell at the Stoop is due to end next spring and Quins are eager to retain their most influential player. At 32 he knows his next contract is likely to be his final big pay-day.

“Both sides are in talks at the moment and it’s something we want to organise early because that suits both parties,” he said.