BARBARIANS chairman Danny Avery has paid tribute to opposition coach Howell Phillips. Avery's young side take on a revitalised Plymouth Argaum at Bickleigh Down tomorrow (3pm). Last season, Argaum struggled to cope with competitive life at the foot of Devon Two.

This season, Phillips and his coaching team have rejuvenated Plymouth's oldest rugby club to the point where they are in the running for the Devon One title. Argaum are fourth, three points behind leaders Salcombe, and have lost just one of their six games.

Avery said: "We're looking forward to locking horns with Plymouth Argaum, because, since we became Plymouth Barbarians, I don't think we've ever played them." He added: "Howell has done a fantastic job with Argaum – it was a tough challenge for him to go there and he's done really well."

Argaum (from): E Notley, D Humphreys, M Handley, K Anderson, M O'Kane, J Venner, J White, J Theophanides (capt), C Hamer, B Millman, A Baird. J Ekins, J Twiss, A Critcheley, D Caers, G Michaels, T Hickey, I Miller.

Barbarians (from): M Rennie, A Corbett, N Blower, N Wheatley, B Milford, A Anderson-Smith, I Nicols, J Harper, R Bush, N Friend, D Leeson, B Evans, J Taylor, D Stephens, J Laville-Harris, D Partridge, M Roskruge, D Bomberg.