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International trio to play final game for Bristol
By Ian Cameron
A trio of internationals are set for their final Bristol Bears bow after being named in the squad that is set to play Sale this weekend in the final round of the Gallagher Premiership regular season.
John Afoa, Alapati Leiua and Nathan Hughes will make their last outings for the club before departing at the end of the season.
All three at set to depart the club following a difficult season for Pat Lam's side, with a named number of players having to be cut from the books following a salary cap administration error behind closed doors.
Afoa and Leiua - who leave for RC Vannes in the ProD2 - start, while Hughes. who is set to join Clermont, is named on the bench for the game at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Elsewhere Jack Bates comes into the back line, while Jake Kerr, John Hawkins and Dan Thomas earn starts in the pack for the Sale Sharks encounter.
Kick-off is at 3pm.
BRISTOL BEARS: 15. Charles Piutau (63 apps), 14. Luke Morahan (97 apps), 13. Jack Bates (21 apps), 12. Alapati Leiua (102 apps), 11. Toby Fricker (28 apps); 10. Callum Sheedy (131 apps), 9. Harry Randall (84 apps); 1. Jake Woolmore (107 apps), 2. Jake Kerr (20 apps), 3. John Afoa (87 apps), 4. John Hawkins (35 apps), 5. Chris Vui (92 apps), 6. Steven Luatua (c) (98 apps), 7. Dan Thomas (109 apps), 8. Sam Jeffries (53 apps).
REPLACEMENTS: 16. Bryan Byrne (31 apps), 17. Jono Benz-Salomon (6 apps), 18. George Kloska (15 apps), 19. Ed Holmes (84 apps), 20. Nathan Hughes (53 apps), 21. Andy Uren (134 apps), 22. Ioan Lloyd (61 apps), 23. Henry Purdy (40 apps).
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Latest Comments
This would be great news for England, but I would have doubts about whether he deserves a hybrid contract. He's not as good as Feyi-Waboso or Freeman, and he might be behind Roebuck and Sleightholme in the pecking order. Behind them Hendy and Elliott are probably at a similar level to Arundell.
Go to commentsNothing to do with fair or unfair for me. Purely about results & the manner in which the ABs were losing. I was optimistic in 2020 but only 3 wins from 6 tests played soon dented that. By the time Schmidt & Ryan were recruited in 2022, the ABs & Foster were a laughing stock & their win rate was in the toilet. Thankfully Schmidt & Ryan helped turn the ABs fortunes somewhat.
The biggest issue I had with Cane as Skipper was his absence for nearly 50% of tests played. Through injury. Buck Shelford wrote an article on this very issue in 2021, suggesting Cane should relinquish the captaincy & concentrate on availability when fit.
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