Bristol Bears welcome back a trio of internationals for Saturday’s showpiece Big Day Out clash with Harlequins at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
Ellis Genge, Tom Jordan and Louis Rees-Zammit all return to the Bears starting line-up following the Guinness Six Nations. Pat Lam’s men look to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat at Leicester Tigers in front of nearly 50,000 supporters in the Welsh capital.
Returning Players Bolster Bristol’s Line-Up
Genge joins fellow Bristolian George Kloska and the in-form Gabriel Oghre in the front row. Jordan partners Harry Randall at half back.
Rees-Zammit starts at full back, with Kalaveti Ravouvou and Academy wing Aidan Boshoff completing the back three. James Williams and Argentina international Matias Moroni start in midfield.
Santiago Grondona comes in at number eight in place of the injured Viliame Mata, with James Dun and Joe Owen continuing in the engine room.
Bristol Bears Team List
Bristol Bears team to face Harlequins at the Principality Stadium on Saturday:
- 15. Louis Rees-Zammit (11 apps)
- 14. Kalaveti Ravouvou (48 apps)
- 13. Matias Moroni (8 apps)
- 12. James Williams (69 apps)
- 11. Aidan Boshoff (14 apps)
- 10. Tom Jordan (13 apps)
- 9. Harry Randall (157 apps)
- 1. Ellis Genge (71 apps)
- 2. Gabriel Oghre (59 apps)
- 3. George Kloska (78 apps)
- 4. James Dun(62 apps)
- 5. Joe Owen (57 apps)
- 6. Steven Luatua (158 apps)
- 7. Fitz Harding (c) (114 apps)
- 8. Santiago Grondona (28 apps)
Replacements and Unavailable Players
Among the replacements is centurion Jake Woolmore, as well as Academy duo Tomas Gwilliam and George Taylor. Centre Benhard Janse van Rensburg and wing Gabriel Ibitoye are set to make an impact off the bench in Cardiff.
Unavailable players include Harry Thacker, Max Lahiff, Paddy Pearce, Pedro Rubiolo, Joe Batley, Kenzie Jenkins, Kofi Cripps, Viliame Mata, AJ MacGinty, Sam Worsley, Jack Bates, Josh Carrington, Rich Lane, and Evan Morris.
The match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports.