JOE BATLEY RETURNS FOR FRIDAY NIGHT WEST COUNTRY DERBY
Joe Batley is back for Bristol Bears’ West Country derby clash with Gloucester under the Friday Night Lights at Ashton Gate (7.45pm KO, live on TNT Sports).
The second row returns from a thumb injury to start in the second row alongside Bristolian James Dun as the Bears take on the Cherry and Whites in round 13 of the Gallagher PREM.
Joe Owen switches to the back row in the absence of the injured Steven Luatua with Benjamin Grondona continuing at number eight following Viliame Mata’s season-ending knee injury.
Bristolian duo Ellis Genge and George Kloska are named either side of Gabriel Oghre in an unchanged front row, with Kieran Marmion coming in to start at scrum half, partnering Scotland international Tom Jordan at half back.
James Williams and Benhard Janse van Rensburg start in the midfield, with Rich Lane returning from injury to start at full back in place of Louis Rees-Zammit, who misses out through injury. Kalaveti Ravouvou and Gabriel Ibitoye start on the wings.
Among the replacements are a trio of front row centurions, with Harry Thacker, Jake Woolmore and Max Lahiff set to add impact from the bench, alongside England international Harry Randall and versatile Argentinian Matias Moroni.
Bristol Bears team to face Gloucester in round 13 of the Gallagher PREM at Ashton Gate on Friday night (7.45pm KO, live on TNT Sports):
15. Rich Lane (66 apps) 14. Kalaveti Ravouvou (50 apps), 13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (68 apps), 12. James Williams (71 apps), 11. Gabriel Ibitoye (69 apps), 10. Tom Jordan (15 apps), 9. Kieran Marmion (70 apps); 1. Ellis Genge (73 apps), 2. Gabriel Oghre (61 apps), 3. George Kloska (80 apps), 4. James Dun (64 apps), 5. Joe Batley (90 apps), 6. Joe Owen (59 apps), 7. Fitz Harding (c) (116 apps), 8. Benjamin Grondona (36 apps).
System players: 16. Harry Thacker (153 apps), 17. Jake Woolmore (181 apps), 18. Max Lahiff (123 apps), 19. Steele Barker (10 apps), 20. Luka Ivanishvili (9 apps), 21. Harry Randall (159 apps), 22. Matias Moroni (10 apps), 23. Noah Heward (38 apps).
Unavailable: Jimmy Halliwell, Paddy Pearce, Pedro Rubiolo, Kenzie Jenkins, Santi Grondona, Steven Luatua, Viliame Mata, AJ MacGinty, Jack Bates, Louis Rees-Zammit, Josh Carrington, Evan Morris.
