Bristol Bears team to face Bath Rugby

Ed Holmes will make his 100^th appearance for the club in Friday night’s West Country derby against Bath in round six of the Gallagher Premiership (7.45pm KO, live on TNT Sports).

The newest Bears centurion returns in the second row where he partners Joe Batley, while in the front row, England international Ellis Genge makes his return at loosehead. Gabriel Oghre continues at hooker with Max Lahiff returning at tighthead against his former club.

James Dun is named in the back row alongside Harry Thacker and Magnus Bradbury, with Fitz Harding ruled out through injury, while in the back line, Piers O’Conor comes into the starting XV on the wing in the absence of Noah Heward.

Director of Rugby, Pat Lam, said: “We know what this fixture means to the people of Bristol, so we’re excited to represent them in what is always an entertaining West Country derby.

“Bath have had a great start to the season, and we know the challenge we will face on Friday night at The Rec. Our success there in recent seasons has been built on mindset and teamwork which is what we need to bring.”

Bristol Bears team to face Bath at The Recreation Ground on Friday night (7.45pm KO):

15. Rich Lane (23 apps), 14. Piers O’Conor (127 apps), 13. Virimi Vakatawa (5 apps), 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (8 apps), 11. Gabriel Ibitoye (25 apps), 10. Callum Sheedy (158 apps), 9. Harry Randall (c) (109 apps); 1. Ellis Genge (35 apps), 2. Gabriel Oghre (1 app), 3. Max Lahiff (72 apps), 4. Ed Holmes (99 apps), 5. Joe Batley (47 apps), 6. James Dun (21 apps), 7. Harry Thacker (107 apps), 8. Magnus Bradbury (29 apps).

System players: 16. Will Capon (79 apps), 17. Jake Woolmore (137 apps), 18. Kyle Sinckler (45 apps), 19. Josh Caulfield (9 apps), 20. Dan Thomas (135 apps), 21. Kieran Marmion (9 apps), 22. James Williams (24 apps), 23. Max Malins (19 apps).

Unavailable: Yann Thomas, Jay Tyack, Chris Vui, Steven Luatua, Santiago Grondona, Fitz Harding, AJ MacGinty, Siva Naulago, Noah Heward.