Former All Black wing Rico Gear returns for Worcester away to Padova © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

Matches: Petrarca Padova 6 - 55 Worcester Warriors

Tournaments/Tours: European Challenge Cup | European Challenge Cup

Teams: Petrarca Padova | Worcester Warriors

Rico Gear returns to the Worcester wing for their trip to face Petrarca Padova in the European Challenge Cup on Saturday.

Gear has been ruled out of action with an Achilles injury since the opening league clash of the season with Northampton Saints but will return on the wing for the trip to Italy in Pool 3.

Last year's runners-up in the competition also welcome back Matt Powell at scrum half as the club aim to make a winning start in the tournament this season. Director of Rugby Ruddock, who also brings Tevita Taumoepeau in at prop and Tom Wood into the back row, has warned his side not to underestimate their Italian hosts.

"I feel Italian rugby is improving and there are a lot of good coaches out there, we won't underestimate Petrarca Rugby, it will be tough," he said. Rugby in Italy is on the up and this will be like a cup final for them as we are their first opponents. They will be fired up and it will be like when we went to Bucuresti last season, they will be really up for a game and wanting to show how good they are and how far they have progressed as a nation."

Ruddock was also full of praise for young centre Alex Grove, who also starts the match, "The emergence of young Alex Grove has been very pleasing," he added. "I felt he was excellent against London Irish, for a young man he showed a lot of physicality, skills and his composure was very good."

Petrarca Padova: Ludovic Mercier, Lorenzo Innocenti, Marco Rosa, Roberto Bertetti, Warren Spragg, Nick Little, Davide Pastormerlo, Chris Caporello, Lorenzo Giovanchelli, Michele Matteralia, Domo Domolailai, Gonzalo Padra, Paul Derbyshire, Nicolas Galatro (c), Zane Ansell

Replacements: Mariano Gastaldi, Nicola Gatto, Tino Paoletti, Wilhelm Stoltz, Emmanuel Billot, Martin Acuna, Nicola Bezzati

Worcester Warriors: Chris Latham (c), Rico Gear, Alex Grove, Sam Tuitupou, Charlie Fellows, Matthew Jones, Matt Powell, Darren Morris, Chris Fortey, Tevita Taumoepeau, Kitch Kitchener, Craig Gillies, Tom Wood, Netani Talei

Replacements: Callum Black, Aleki Lutui, Shaun Ruwers, Greg Rawlinson, Matt Cox, Ryan Powell, Loki Crichton,