Team news: Sale Sharks vs Bristol Bears

BEARS NAME ALL-ENGLISH MATCHDAY SQUAD FOR SALE CLASH

Pat Lam names an all-English matchday 23, including nine Academy players, for Bristol Bears’ Gallagher PREM round 18 clash against Sale Sharks at CorpAcq Stadium on Saturday (3.15pm KO, live on HBO Max).

The selection ensures the club maintains the required seasonal EQP (English Qualified Player) average to satisfy RFU regulations, following a series of injuries to senior English-qualified players throughout the campaign.

With 14 English-qualified players unavailable this weekend, including Ellis Genge, Fitz Harding and George Kloska, who all sustained injuries in last weekend’s derby victory over Bath, Lam has named five current Academy players in the starting XV.

Academy hooker Tomas Gwilliam is set to make his first Gallagher PREM start, while George Taylor lines up in the second row. Sam Worsley, Aidan Boshoff and Joe Jenkins are also included in the starting backline.

With club captain Fitz Harding sidelined by a broken hand, Harry Thacker and Joe Batley are deployed in the back row alongside Joe Owen. Elsewhere, James Dun and Rich Lane are in line to make their final appearances for the club in the North West.

In the front row, Bears centurions Jake Woolmore and Max Lahiff start either side of Gwilliam, with Genge and Kloska unavailable.

Captain Harry Randall partners Academy fly-half Sam Worsley at half-back, while Bristolian Jack Bates and Academy centre Joe Jenkins combine in midfield. Noah Heward is selected on the wing for the trip to Salford.

Among the replacements, Academy hooker Kieran Hill is poised to make his senior debut, while fellow Academy graduate Ollie Harris could make his Gallagher PREM debut from the bench. Jimmy Halliwell and Kenzie Jenkins are the other Academy youngsters included in the matchday squad.

Director of Rugby, Pat Lam, said: “Hitting the required average of English-qualified players every season is something I am very proud of at the Bears. To be able to achieve it again in one of our most challenging seasons with so many EQP players unavailable throughout the whole season is a credit to all.

“That list has been compounded again this week with Ellis, Fitz and George joining James Williams and a long list of unavailable players.

“When you add that to the large number of long term EQP unavailability we’ve had to Harry Randall, James Williams, Joe Jenkins, Jack Bates, Gabriel Ibitoye, Noah Heward, Rich Lane Aidan Boshoff in the backs and Gabriel Oghre, Joe Batley, James Dun, Steele Barker, George Taylor, Kofi Cripps, and Paddy Pearce in the forwards throughout the entirety of the campaign, it’s had a significant impact on our EQP numbers.

“We applied for some dispensation around our massive EQP injury list and while they RFU had sympathy and understanding for our situation, the regulations don’t permit change this season but it’s something they will consider for the future.

“While it’s disappointing to lose so many experienced players, it also presents a fantastic opportunity for some of our younger guys. We’ve got five current Academy players starting and several more involved in the matchday 23, which is a real credit to the work being done throughout the pathway.

It’s another chance for these young players to show what they’re capable of on the PREM stage and continue building the future of Bristol Bears.”

Bristol Bears team to face Sale Sharks at Corpacq Stadium on Saturday (3.15pm KO, live on HBO Max):

Bristol Bears team to face Sale Sharks at Corpacq Stadium on Saturday (3.15pm KO, live on HBO Max):