The Irish international will challenge AJ MacGinty and Sam Worsley for the No10 jersey in the season's run-in.
Last week’s post-Christmas block of fixtures took us beyond the halfway point in this season’s Gallagher Premiership and a number of the round nine results have certainly whetted the appetite as English ruby welcomes in the new year.
Ireland international fly half Harry Byrne will join Bristol Bears on a three-month loan deal from Leinster as injury cover for AJ MacGinty.
US Eagles fly-half and this season's leading points scorer in the Gallagher Premiership, AJ MacGinty, is one of 10 Bristol players to have signed new deals with the club.
Bristol sent out a major title statement as Pat Lam’s men set a new Premiership record in a thumping 54-24 win over Leicester at Welford Road.
It was the French who caught the eye in round one with six of their eight teams winning, including Stade Rochelais and Toulon away from home.
Round six of the Gallagher Premiership promises to deliver another thrilling weekend of action, with teams looking to solidify their positions ahead of a break before the Test rugby returns in November.
Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Pacific Island duo, Fijian Kalaveti Ravouvou and Samoan international Steven Luatua, have recovered from injury to hand Bristol Bears boss Pat Lam a triple boost ahead of Friday night's visit by Northampton Saints.
Twenty-eight of the 36 players named by Steve Borthwick in the England squad for the upcoming Autumn Nations Series will start for their clubs in this weekend’s Gallagher Premiership.
Joe Worsley, the England World Cup winner, is revelling in Georgia’s historic victory over Italy in Batumi, but the Lelos defence coach is acutely aware of the work that still needs to be done before they are included in the Six Nations