Bears team to face Exeter in derby
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Bristol Bears include 10 current or former Academy players in their matchday squad for Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership Derby Weekend clash with Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park (3pm KO, live on Discovery+).
Fitz Harding, Jack Bates and Joe Jenkins are named in the starting XV for the round four clash, with James Williams (pec) and Max Malins (knee) ruled out with injury. Among the replacements, Will Capon, Ellis Genge, George Kloska, James Dun, Benjamin Grondona, Sam Worsley (Premiership debut) and Benjamin Elizalde (full debut) are all included.
Kieran Marmion starts at scrum half for the trip to Devon, replacing Harry Randall in the number nine shirt, who alongside Ellis Genge has been unable to train with the team this week due to England’s training camp.
Jake Woolmore starts in the front row alongside Max Lahiff and last weekend’s man of the match, Gabriel Oghre. Josh Caulfield is named in the second row alongside Joe Batley as Pat Lam makes five changes from the side that beat Bath at The Rec.
Bristol Bears team to face Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on Saturday (3pm KO, live on Discovery+):
15. Rich Lane (38 apps), 14. Jack Bates (36 apps), 13. Joe Jenkins (14 apps), 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (27 apps), 11. Gabriel Ibitoye (44 apps), 10. AJ MacGinty (40 apps), 9. Kieran Marmion (27 apps); 1. Jake Woolmore (152 apps), 2. Gabriel Oghre (21 apps), 3. Max Lahiff (90 apps), 4. Josh Caulfield (26 apps), 5. Joe Batley (66 apps), 6. Steven Luatua (133 apps), 7. Santiago Grondona (1 app), 8. Fitz Harding (c) (75 apps).
System players: 16. Will Capon (89 apps), 17. Ellis Genge (47 apps), 18. George Kloska (45 apps), 19. James Dun (36 apps), 20. Benjamin Grondona (4 apps), 21. Harry Randall (129 apps), 22. Sam Worsley (7 apps), 23. Benjamin Elizalde (debut).
Unavailable: Harry Thacker, Steele Barker, George Taylor, Jake Heenan, Viliame Mata, James Williams, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Noah Heward, Siva Naulago, Max Malins.
