Bristol Bears’ squad is set to be swelled by a host of long-term injured players

Gabriel Ibitoye of Bristol Bears scores his team’s fifth try as he is tackled by Jamie Benson of Harlequins (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)(Image: )

Bristol Bears’ squad is set to be swelled by a host of long-term injured players ahead of Saturday’s trip to Exeter Chiefs in Round 10 of the Gallagher PREM in a boost to their play-off hopes.

Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam confirmed veteran flanker Steven Luatua, star winger Gabriel Ibitoye and lock James Dun are all in contention to play at Sandy Park this weekend in a top-four clash with the high-flying Chiefs, who sit third in the league table, one place above the Bears, who have Leicester Tigers hot on their heels.

READ MORE: Bristol Bears player ratings from Bordeaux-Begles defeat – ‘Costly errors’

Ibitoye, who was the club’s top scorer last season and made the Gallagher PREM Dream Team, has not played for the Bears since the opening day of the PREM season after suffering a serious hamstring injury while chasing his own kick and requiring surgery.

Former All Black Luatua has not played since November after suffering a lower limb injury, but now looks set to return to action with Fitz Harding and Santi Grondona having played a lot of minutes in recent weeks. Those two will undoubtedly get plenty of rest over the next couple of weeks of PREM Rugby Cup games.

Fitz Harding of Bristol Bears celebrates with teammates Steven Luatua and Benjamin Elizalde after scoring his team’s third try (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)(Image: )

James Dun, who can play both in the second row or on the flank, is now back in the selection mix having recovered from a recurring shoulder injury. He will be looking to add to his legacy in a Bears jersey, having been confirmed as leaving his home town club for Harlequins at the end of the season.

Speaking after Sunday’s frustrating 15-27 defeat to Bordeaux-Begles, Lam said: “What we have done when you consider all the boys who have been away, guys have really stepped up.

“We are starting to see a few come back, Steven Luatua, Gabs Ibitoye, James Dun, these guys were involved in the warm-up against Bordeaux, and they will come into the selection picture this week.”

Steve Borthwick will announce his England squad for the 2026 Guinness Six Nations on Friday, but thanks to better co-operation between the RFU and PREM Rugby, players selected for their country will be available in this weekend’s round of league games, with no Sunday fixture to allow the players to head out to the national side training camp in Girona.

Bears prop Ellis Genge, who was named the Gallagher PREM player of the month for December, will undoubtedly be amongst those selected by Borthwick.

Yesterday, Louis Rees-Zammit was named in Steve Tandy’s Wales squad and Tom Jordan, who badly cut the inside of his mouth against Bordeaux, was selected by Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend.