Bath Team News for Derby day in PREM Rugby Cup

JOE JENKINS BACK IN STARTING XV FOR PREM CUP DERBY CLASH

Joe Jenkins will make his first start since October when Bristol Bears travel to The Rec to take on Bath Rugby in round five of the PREM Rugby Cup on Saturday (2.30pm KO).

The centre, who made his return from a hamstring injury as a replacement during last weekend’s clash with Exeter Chiefs at Ashton Gate, lines up in the midfield alongside Argentina international Benjamin Elizalde for the West Country derby.

Captain Harry Randall returns at scrum half off the back of a dazzling Player of the Match display for England A last weekend, with the versatile Max Pepper switching to the wing. Sam Worsley continues at fly half as one of 10 Academy players named in the matchday squad.

In the pack, Max Lahiff returns from England camp to start at tighthead, replacing the injured Jimmy Halliwell, with Academy prop Louie Trevett continuing at loosehead. Harry Thacker is at hooker, while in the back row, there’s a start for Academy forward John Edwards.

Among the replacements, there’s a potential debut for Academy hooker Kieran Hill, with Tomas Gwilliam, Sam Scott, Ethan Surrey and Ollie Harris the other Academy players included.

Bristol Bears team to face Bath Rugby in the PREM Rugby Cup on Saturday (2.30pm KO):

15. Rich Lane (64 apps), 14. Max Pepper (7 apps), 13. Benjamin Elizalde (25 apps), 12. Joe Jenkins (31 apps), 11. Gabriel Ibitoye (64 apps), 10. Sam Worsley (33 apps), 9. Harry Randall (c) (154 apps); 1. Louie Trevett (8 apps), 2. Harry Thacker (151 apps), 3. Max Lahiff (120 apps), 4. James Dun (59 apps), 5. Steele Barker (9 apps), 6. Joe Owen (54 apps), 7. George Taylor (9 apps), 8. John Edwards (3 apps).

System players: 16. Tomas Gwilliam (12 apps), 17. Sam Grahamslaw (22 apps), 18. Sam Scott (1 app), 19. Ethan Surrey (6 apps), 20. Kieran Hill (debut), 21. Sam Wolstenholme (18 apps), 22. Charlie Powell (18 apps), 23. Ollie Harris (3 apps).

Unavailable: Will Capon, Ellis Genge, Jake Woolmore, Lovejoy Chawatama, Jimmy Halliwell, George Kloska, Paddy Pearce, Kenzie Jenkins, Steven Luatua, Kofi Cripps, Benjamin Grondona, AJ MacGinty, Tom Jordan, Toby Baker, Victor Worsnip, Jack Bates, Aidan Boshoff, Josh Carrington, Noah Heward, Louis Rees-Zammit.