Bristol Bears Face Gloucester Rugby in PC Round 4 Clash
Bristol Bears are set to clash with Gloucester Rugby in the PREM Rugby Cup, marking an exciting fixture the Bears fans won’t want to miss.
Bears Prepare for Gloucester Showdown
The match will take place on Sunday at Ashton Gate with a kickoff scheduled for 3 PM. This game is particularly significant for Harry Thacker, as it will be his 150th appearance for the club.
Key Player Returns
Thacker, an experienced hooker, will partner with Max Lahiff and Academy player Jimmy Halliwell in the front row. In the backline, speedster Gabriel Ibitoye returns for his first start since recovering from a long-term hamstring injury.
- Rich Lane and Noah Heward join Ibitoye in an experienced back three.
- Jack Bates partners with Argentina’s Benjamin Elizalde in the midfield.
- Sam Worsley has been named as the fly half, with Sam Wolstenholme starting at scrum half.
Team Composition
Steven Luatua will captain the side from the back row, marking his second consecutive appearance after his injury comeback. The pack also features Georgian international Luka Ivanishvili and Argentina’s Ben Grondona.
Director of Rugby Insights
Pat Lam, the Director of Rugby, emphasized the importance of this match for players returning from long-term injuries. He noted, “The PREM Rugby Cup allows players to gain vital match experience before the league’s return in March.”
The bench for the upcoming game will include five current Academy players: Tomas Gwilliam, Sam Scott, George Taylor, Raff Weston, and Ollie Harris.
Bristol Bears Matchday Squad
The following players will represent Bristol Bears against Gloucester Rugby:
- 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)
Unavailable Players
Several key players will not participate in this match, including:
- 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
As the Bristol Bears gear up to face off against their rivals Gloucester, fans can expect an exciting match filled with anticipation and comeback stories.
