International trio to play final game for Bristol
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).
Latest Comments
Always reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
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