Pat Lam is looking to his Bristolian core to deliver the goods in Saturday’s Premiership Rugby Cup round two derby clash with Bath Rugby on Saturday.
Bristol director of rugby Lam has named eight Bristolians in his starting XV for the short trip to the Recreation Ground, with Harry Rowson, Deago Bailey, Jack Bates, Yann Thomas, Will Capon, George Kloska, Paddy Pearce and Aaron Tull all included for the derby match.
The Bears resources have been stretched to their limit this weekend with the club facing Australia A the night before the derby with Bath, meaning 46 players will take to the field over the space of 18 hours.
Lam said: “A big consideration in selection was ensuring that our homegrown players had the opportunity to play in a Bristol-Bath fixture and they are all excited by the opportunity to represent the club and their families in this derby game.
“With our unavailability list, we’re also pleased to welcome some guest players into the squad for the weekend.”
Thomas, Capon and Kloska complete an experienced, all Bristolian front row, with Academy lock Kenzie Jenkins and guest player Peter Paramore, who was previously in the club’s Academy U18s side, named in the second row.
Pearce continues on the blindside after a strong showing in the 67-19 win over Bedford Blues in round one last weekend, with fellow Academy youngster Aaron Tull at number eight and Loughborough University back row Theo Myall (guest player) at openside.
In the back line, the versatile Rich Lane is set for his first career appearance at fly half, inside a homegrown midfield of Joe Jenkins and Jack Bates, with Academy trio Harry Rowson, Deago Bailey and Aidan Boshoff in the back three.
Among the replacements, current U18s scrum half Cai Gealy travels with the matchday squad for the first time, while Ed Timpson – formerly of the University of Nottingham BUCS side and more recently of Northern Districts in Sydney’s Shute Shield competition – who joins on a short-term deal, could also make his first appearance for the club.
The game kicks off at 1pm on Saturday with tickets still available.
Bristol Bears: 15. Harry Rowson (8 apps), 14. Deago Bailey (12 apps), 13. Jack Bates (41 apps), 12. Joe Jenkins (16 apps), 11. Aidan Boshoff (1 app), 10. Rich Lane (41 apps), 9. Sam Edwards (1 app); 1. Yann Thomas (115 apps), 2. Will Capon (91 apps), 3. George Kloska (49 apps) (c), 4. Kenzie Jenkins (1 app), 5. Peter Paramore* (debut), 6. Paddy Pearce (8 apps), 7. Theo Myall* (debut), 8. Aaron Tull (5 apps).
Replacements: 16. Tomas Gwilliam (2 apps), 17. Louie Trevett (1 app), 18. Jimmy Halliwell (3 apps), 19. Ethan Surrey (debut), 20. Ed Timpson (debut), 21. Oscar Lennon/Cai Gealy (debut), 22. Toby Baker (1 app), 23. Jacob Cusick (debut).
*guest player
Unavailable: Ellis Genge, Sam Grahamslaw, Josh Caulfield, Steele Barker, George Taylor, Santiago Grondona, Kofi Cripps, Viliame Mata, Harry Randall, Sam Wolstenholme, James Williams, Noah Heward, Max Malins, Benjamin Elizalde.
Bath Rugby are yet to name their team