Williams gets big chance after Purchase withdraws ill

Rob Williams has replaced Olympic and World champion Zac Purchase in the lightweight double sculls for the season-opening world cup in Banyoles from May 29-31.

GB Rowing announced 18 senior crews to compete in Spain, with the Maidenhead rower occupying the vacant seat of Marlow's Purchase, who has withdrawn through illness.

Williams will be partnered by Paul Mattick, who he raced against in a thrilling final of the GB Rowing Senior Trials last month.

Windsor's Adam Freeman-Pask will fill the lightweight single sculls seat.

Katherine Grainger will race in the women's single scull, while fellow Marlow rower Annie Vernon returns to the double sculls with Anna Bebington, the boat class in which they won World Cup medals together in 2006.

"I'm looking forward to trying the single scull", said three times Olympic silver medallist Grainger.

"I'm sure it will be scary when I'm on the start line but also quite exciting. It will be something new and refreshing."

David Tanner, GB Rowing's performance director, said: "I am really looking forward to the start of the 2009 racing season. We have some truly outstanding rowers, some of whom are racing in fresh combinations.

"I'm sure that this season will be one of rebuilding but also won with some exciting potential."