Team news: Bath vs Bristol Bears

The USA international partners Tom Whiteley at half-back, with Ioan Lloyd and Jack Bates forming an exciting midfield.

England U20 wing Deago Bailey earns a fourth competitive start for the club alongside Henry Purdy and Rich Lane in the back three.

Up front, Yann Thomas and Max Lahiff start either side of Harry Thacker, with Ed Holmes and Joe Batley in the engine room.

John Hawkins, Sam Lewis and Fitz Harding make up the back row for the midweek clash.

Bath Team News:

Scrum-half Lock, who joined the Blue, Black and White as a scholar in the summer after impressing in the U18 Academy League for Harlequins, has featured in BUCS Super Rugby this season for University of Bath where he is studying Politics and International Relations. 

Parry, who has also played in BUCS Super Rugby for Durham, has risen through the Bath Rugby pathway and graduated from the Under-18s following an excellent final 2021/22 season with Sherborne School, aiding their route to the semi-finals of the Schools Cup.

There will also be a full debut for Archie Stanley in the front row. The loosehead prop, a former Beechen Cliff student, has appeared twice in the Premiership Rugby Cup previously but will start his first Bath match in the front row alongside Tom Doughty and Johannes Jonker.

Michael Etete and Ewan Richards pair up in the second row while Tom Ellis will captain the side from blindside flanker in a back row containing Ethan Staddon and JJ Tonks.

Homegrown fly-half Sam Harris takes the 10 jersey and Gabe Goss is on the opposite wing to Parry with Darren Atkins completing the back three at full-back.

Max Wright and Jonathan Joseph add experience to the backline in the centres.

On the bench, Scott Kirk could make his first Bath appearance as could guest player Blake Boyland.

Mike Williams is back from a knee injury and will make his first outing of the campaign and his 50^th for Bath.