TEESSIDE teenager Zach Kibirige will make his Championship debut when Newcastle Falcons entertain Rotherham Titans this evening.

Middlesbrough-born Kibirige will start on the wing as Dean Richards' side attempt to extend their perfect start to the season to nine straight victories at Kingston Park.

Kibirige, who is a student at Yarm School, turns 18 this weekend and impressed as Falcons routed Cross Keys 52-5 in the British and Irish Cup two weeks ago.

He scored a try in that game, and also crossed for Blaydon last weekend as he caught the eye in the Tyneside club's 38-29 win over Old Albanians.

The youngster, who is an established England under-18 international, claimed a try and an assist in the National One encounter and gets a chance to prove himself in the Championship tonight.

“The chance to blood a Zach Kibirige has been absolutely fantastic for us,” said director of rugby Richards. “Now he gets a chance to play his first RFU Championship game and we are keen to see what he can do at this level.”

Richards has opted to stick with the bulk of the side that saw off Connacht in the British and Irish Cup last weekend as his side reverts to domestic duties.

Rory Lawson, recently recalled to the Scotland squad for the autumn internationals, starts at scrum-half alongside Jimmy Gopperth, who is back at number ten.

Tane Tu'ipulotu and Alex Crockett retain their place in the centres, with Alex Tait starting at full-back for the first time in the Championship after a number of impressive cup displays.

The pack is completely unchanged from last weekend, although Chris York returns to the replacements after recovering from a hand injury and there is also a place on the bench for 18-year-old forward Scott Wilson.

“Rotherham are a big side, not only in the pack but also in the backline too,” said Richards. “I don't think we have come up against anything like that this season.

“I think it is going to be a dry night and hopefully we will get a good crowd at the game. On these colder nights, the atmosphere is even better and I'm really looking forward to the game.

“We've just got to continue the winning streak and get the continuity going in respect of how we want to play. It isn't always the same for every game, and we do change our style of play in accordance with the opposition. But that's not massively, it's just little bits and pieces.”

NEWCASTLE FALCONS: A Tait, Kibirige, Crockett, Tu'ipulotu, Catterick, Gopperth, Lawson; Golding, Vickers, Tomaszczyk, del Fava, MacLeod, Mayhew, Welch, Hogg.

Replacements: Thompson, Hall, Tomes, York, Pasqualin, Hodgson, Fitzpatrick.