Bristol name team to play Gloucester

England international Ellis Genge makes his return to action when Bristol Bears take on Gloucester Rugby at Kingsholm on Saturday evening (5.30pm KO, live on TNT Sports).

The Bristolian prop, who missed last weekend’s victory over Exeter Chiefs to attend the birth of his third child, makes his first appearance since returning from an impressive Six Nations campaign in the round 13 West Country derby.

Genge is one of three changes from the side that stormed to victory at Ashton Gate last weekend, with Josh Caulfield starting in the second row in the absence of the injured Joe Owen, while centurion Steven Luatua replaces the suspended Santiago Grondona on the blindside flank.

Among the replacements, there’s a long-awaited return for fly-half AJ MacGinty, who is set for his first appearance since December, while Bristolian Academy forward Paddy Pearce is also named.

Bristol Bears team to face Gloucester Rugby at Kingsholm on Saturday (5.30pm KO, live on TNT Sports):

15. Rich Lane (55 apps), 14. Jack Bates (50 apps), 13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (43 apps), 12. James Williams (49 apps), 11. Kalaveti Ravouvou (25 apps), 10. Harry Byrne (7 apps), 9. Harry Randall (139 apps); 1. Ellis Genge (55 apps), 2. Gabriel Oghre (36 apps), 3. Max Lahiff (104 apps), 4. James Dun (48 apps), 5. Josh Caulfield (32 apps), 6. Steven Luatua (147 apps), 7. Fitz Harding (c) (90 apps), 8. Viliame Mata (11 apps).

System players: 16. Harry Thacker (128 apps), 17. Jake Woolmore (165 apps), 18. Jimmy Halliwell (11 apps), 19. Paddy Pearce (13 apps), 20. Jake Heenan (120 apps), 21. Kieran Marmion (45 apps), 22. AJ MacGinty (46 apps), 23. Siva Naulago (41 apps).

Unavailable: George Kloska, Steele Barker, Joe Batley, Joe Owen, George Taylor, Santiago Grondona, Gabriel Ibitoye, Noah Heward, Max Malins.