Caerphilly have recorded only one win all season, but they will be hopeful of gaining their second this weekend as they take on Rugby Parma in the first leg of their PARKER PEN SHIELD quarter-final at Virginia Park.
Former Wales centre Mark Ring has the hardest job in Welsh rugby, but he’s introduced an entertaining style to the Virginia Park side, and some close defeats against clubs with multi-million-pound budgets have impressed Caerphilly fans.
Ring can call on three Tongan internationals, with winger Taumaholo Taufahema proving dangerous on attack. Utility back Justin Thomas is a quality player, while Parma will have to keep a close eye on No 8 Andrew Williams.
Rugby Parma will go into the first leg as the underdogs, but have a pacey backline and will be looking to limit the damage and get Caerphilly back to Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi. Scrum-half Filippo Frati, centre Samuele Pace and fullback Gert Peens have all played for Italy and this promises to be an entertaining match between two free-running sides.
Caerphilly: S Tuipulotu; R Howells, R Boobyer, S Cox, T Taufahema; J Thomas, A Chilten; L Manning, F Vunipola, R Skuse, M Workman, P Jones, J El-Abd, S Grainger, A Williams
Replacements; G Lewis, L Richards, G Jones, N Watkins, D Sweet, G Liddon, R Bilton
Rugby Parma: G Peens; L Larini, G Branchi (capt), S Pace, N Di Maura; C Pilat, F Frati;T Paoletti, S Busato, D Meggetto, A Giacon, M Bosman, F Soncini, H Tuilagi, M Zaffiri
Replacements: F Staibano, F Guidetti, V Golfetti, G Pulli, A Birchall, M Capitani, A Risolo