Team news: Exeter Chiefs vs Bristol Bears – GP R10

LUATUA AND IBITOYE RETURN FOR SANDY PARK CLASH

Steven Luatua and Gabriel Ibitoye make their long-awaited returns from injury when Bristol Bears travel to Sandy Park to take on Exeter Chiefs in round 10 of the Gallagher PREM on Saturday (3pm KO, live on Discovery+).

Centurion Luatua starts at blindside for the third versus fourth place showdown in his first appearance since October, while Ibitoye is named among the replacements having been absent since the round one victory over Leicester Tigers at Ashton Gate.

The pair are two of three changes to Pat Lam’s 23 as the Bears go in search of fifth straight league win, with experienced Argentina international Matias Moroni coming into the midfield to partner Benhard Janse van Rensburg.

Captain Fitz Harding and Fijian international Viliame Mata are named alongside Luatua in the back row, while in the front row, Bristolian duo Ellis Genge and George Kloska pack down either side of Gabriel Oghre.

Among the replacements, Academy tighthead Jimmy Halliwell continues, while Joe Owen, who signed a new long-term deal this week, is also included.

International duo Kieran Marmion and Santiago Grondona are set to make an impact from the bench.

Bristol Bears team to face Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on Saturday (3pm KO, live on Discovery+):

15. Louis Rees-Zammit (10 apps), 14. Noah Heward (35 apps), 13. Matias Moroni (6 apps), 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (63 apps), 11. Kalaveti Ravouvou (45 apps), 10. Tom Jordan (12 apps), 9. Harry Randall (153 apps); 1. Ellis Genge (70 apps), 2. Gabriel Oghre (56 apps), 3. George Kloska (75 apps), 4. Pedro Rubiolo (13 apps), 5. Joe Batley (88 apps), 6. Steven Luatua (156 apps), 7. Fitz Harding (c) (111 apps), 8. Viliame Mata (29 apps).

System players: 16. Harry Thacker (148 apps), 17. Max Lahiff (118 apps), 18. Jimmy Halliwell (20 apps), 19. Joe Owen (51 apps), 20. Santiago Grondona (25 apps), 21. Kieran Marmion (65 apps), 22. James Williams (65 apps), 23. Gabriel Ibitoye (61 apps).

Unavailable: Will Capon, Jake Woolmore, Lovejoy Chawatama, Paddy Pearce, Kenzie Jenkins, Kofi Cripps, AJ MacGinty, Toby Baker, Joe Jenkins, Aidan Boshoff, Josh Carrington.