MATT Williams says he is excited to have bolstered his Chinnor side with the acquisition of Oxford University duo George Messum and Henry Lamont.

Dark Blues club captain Messum, who was ineligible for last month’s Varsity Match, is named among the replacements for Saturday’s National League 2 South clash at home to Cambridge.

And Lamont, who skippered Oxford at Twickenham only to be forced off with a head injury after just two minutes, begins training on Tuesday.

Their arrivals follow the appointment of London Welsh flanker Richard Thorpe as defence coach until the end of the season.

With captain James Tyas out for six weeks with a shoulder injury, director of rugby Williams moved quickly to sign back row Messum.

Williams said: “I needed to look for reinforcements.

"I knew George was discussing with various clubs the opportunity to play club rugby so I’m really pleased he has come to us.

“He is an addition I am very excited about.”

Lamont, predominantly a centre for Oxford last year, joins the club as a winger.

Williams said: “Henry will add a lot of steel and competition in an area where we are light.”

Thorpe, 31, who played for Canada in the 2015 World Cup, will still play for the Exiles, but help out at Chinnor's training sessions.

And Williams was pleased with his side's defensive progress last Saturday, despite a sixth bonus point defeat of the season at Bury St Edmunds.

He added: “His first session was last week and there was a noticeable improvement against Bury.”

“We have now just got to keep pushing on.”

Matt Bolwell, who has joined on a short term deal from Cornish Pirates, starts at No 8 tomorrow.

Second row Daz Oliver faces a late fitness test, while George Blewitt comes in for Jake Olley on the left wing.

In National League 1, Henley Hawks face second-placed Blackheath and make one change with Jamie Davies replacing the unavailable Basil Strang at full back.

Kyle Sharpe, Adam Neal, Peter Alston, Sam Watkinson, Jack Crowe and Keni Fisliau all return as Oxford Harlequins host Leighton Buzzard in South West 1 East.

Graeme Crapper, Joe Chilvers, Joe Bellinger and Ben Nicholl all start for Grove’s trip to Maidenhead.

And Witney hope to make it five wins in a row at Reading.

TOMORROW’S TEAMS

Henley Hawks (v Blackheath, away): Davies, Randall, O’Neill, Allen, Andre, Palmer, Murphy, Moss, Emery, Sandys, Clements (capt), Davey, Hall, Bell, Hirskyj-Douglas. Reps: Manning, West, Willis, Payne, Perry.

Chinnor (v Cambridge, home): Heath, Beer, Adams, Lloret, Blewitt, Hopkin, Jones, Berry, Townsend, Tyack, Oliver, Burns, Manning, Waddingham, Bolwell. Reps: A Darlington, M Darlington, Messum, Goodfellow, Olley.

Witney (v Reading, away): Lamb, Fisk, Godfrey, Clarke, Morgan, Lewis, G Campbell, Richardson, Harris, Richens, Mortimer, Bennett, C Campbell, Collins, Lane. Reps: Fuller, Webb, Dodman-Edwards.

Oxford Harlequins (v Leighton Buzzard, home): Yeats, Poulet, Crowe, Fisilau, Kelly, Watkinson, O’Brian, Sharpe, Edney, Boulton, Neal, Purchase, Alston, Battson, Latu. Reps from: Primett, Jones, Dimond, Milton, Ward, Hopson.

Grove (v Maidenhead, away): Crapper, J Chilvers, Allen, Law, White, N Sevier, Cramp, Eckert, Wiltshire, Walsh, Miles, Gratwohl, Bellinger, Wells, B Nicholl. Reps: Dixey, Durrant, Crook.