RANDALL SET FOR 150th APPEARANCE IN FESTIVE CLASH
Harry Randall will make his 150th competitive appearance for the club when the Bears take on Newcastle Red Bulls in front of a bumper festive crowd at Ashton Gate on Saturday (3pm KO, live on Discovery+).
The England scrum half, who this week signed a new long-term contract with the club, is the 16th player to reach the milestone and the second Bear after Jake Woolmore.
Randall partners Tom Jordan at half back, with Matias Moroni, who returned to the club last week, coming in to start at outside centre. In the back three, there’s a return for Noah Heward on the wing, while in the pack, George Taylor will make his first Gallagher PREM start in the second row.
Viliame Mata is back at number eight with skipper Fitz Harding switching to openside and Joe Owen continuing at blindside. Harry Thacker starts at hooker, with George Kloska also returning to the starting XV at tighthead and Max Lahiff packing down on the loosehead.
Academy duo Jimmy Halliwell and Sam Worsley are among the replacements for Saturday’s round eight clash.
Bristol Bears team to face Newcastle Red Bulls at Ashton Gate on Saturday (3pm KO, live on Discovery+):
15. Louis Rees-Zammit (7 apps), 14. Noah Heward (31 apps), 13. Matias Moroni (2 apps), 12. James Williams (61 apps), 11. Kalaveti Ravouvou (41 apps), 10. Tom Jordan (8 apps), 9. Harry Randall (149 apps); 1. Max Lahiff (114 apps), 2. Harry Thacker (144 apps), 3. George Kloska (72 apps), 4. George Taylor (6 apps), 5. Joe Batley (85 apps), 6. Joe Owen (47 apps), 7. Fitz Harding (c) (107 apps), 8. Viliame Mata (25 apps).
System players: 16. Gabriel Oghre (52 apps), 17. Ellis Genge (66 apps), 18. Jimmy Halliwell (18 apps), 19. Pedro Rubiolo (9 apps), 20. Luka Ivanishvili (6 apps), 21. Sam Wolstenholme (15 apps), 22. Sam Worsley (27 apps), 23. Rich Lane (60 apps).
Unavailable: Will Capon, Jake Woolmore, James Dun, Paddy Pearce, Steven Luatua, Kofi Cripps, AJ MacGinty, Toby Baker, Joe Jenkins, Jack Bates, Gabriel Ibitoye.
