THACKER SET FOR 150TH APPEARANCE WHEN BEARS FACE GLOUCESTER
Harry Thacker will make his 150th appearance for the club when Bristol Bears take on West Country rivals Gloucester in round four of the PREM Rugby Cup at Ashton Gate on Sunday (3pm KO).
The experienced hooker packs down alongside Max Lahiff and Academy tighthead Jimmy Halliwell in the front row, while in the backline Gabriel Ibitoye makes his first start since September having returned from a long-term hamstring injury.
The Bears speedster starts in an experienced back three alongside last weekend’s try scorer Noah Heward and full back Rich Lane.
Jack Bates is another returnee in the backline, starting in the midfield alongside Argentina international Benjamin Elizalde, while Academy fly half Sam Worsley is named in the number 10 shirt.
Sam Wolstenholme starts at scrum half, while in the pack, Steven Luatua captains the side from the back row as he makes his second successive appearance since returning from long-term injury.
Georgian international Luka Ivanishvili is at openside with Argentina’s Ben Grondona at number eight.
The bench features fives current Academy players, with Tomas Gwilliam, Sam Scott, George Taylor, Raff Weston and Ollie Harris all included.
Director of Rugby, Pat Lam, said: “After a long and successful 10-week block in the league and Investec Champions Cup, the PREM Rugby Cup provides a good opportunity for players who have recently returned from surgeries and long-term injuries to build up some game time ahead of the return to PREM action in March.
“Steven (Luatua) and Gabs (Ibitoye) made their first appearances for a number of months at Sandy Park last weekend and it’s great to have them back fit and available, while Rich Lane is another to recently return from surgery and a long layoff.
“Jack Bates and James Dun are also back for their first appearances since November, so the next few weeks provide a great chance for all of these guys to bank some gametime before we face Leicester Tigers at the end of March.
“It’s also an opportunity for our young Academy players to pull on a Bears shirt and continue their development playing alongside our experienced players. Seven have been named in our matchday squad and a further three who have graduated through our Academy pathway.”
Bristol Bears team to face Gloucester in the PREM Rugby Cup at Ashton Gate on Sunday (3pm KO):
15. Rich Lane (62 apps), 14. Noah Heward (36 apps), 13. Benjamin Elizalde (23 apps), 12. Jack Bates (59 apps), 11. Gabriel Ibitoye (62 apps), 10. Sam Worsley (31 apps), 9. Sam Wolstenholme (16 apps); 1. Max Lahiff (119 apps), 2. Harry Thacker (149 apps), 3. Jimmy Halliwell (21 apps), 4. James Dun (57 apps), 5. Joe Owen (52 apps), 6. Steven Luatua (c) (157 apps), 7. Luka Ivanishvili (7 apps), 8. Benjamin Grondona (32 apps).
System players: 16. Tomas Gwilliam (11 apps), 17. Sam Grahamslaw (20 apps), 18. Sam Scott (debut), 19. Steele Barker (8 apps), 20. George Taylor (7 apps), 21. Max Pepper (5 apps), 22. Raff Weston (2 apps), 23. Ollie Harris (1 app).
Unavailable: Will Capon, Ellis Genge, Jake Woolmore, Lovejoy Chawatama, Paddy Pearce, Kenzie Jenkins, Kofi Cripps, AJ MacGinty, Tom Jordan, Toby Baker, Joe Jenkins, Aidan Boshoff, Josh Carrington, Louis Rees-Zammit.
