Bristol Bears host Gloucester Rugby in Round Six of the 2025/26 PREM Rugby Cup pool stages
13:52, 28 Jan 2026Updated 12:37, 30 Jan 2026
Bristol Bears’ Gabriel Ibitoye (Photo by Bob Bradford – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Bristol Bears have named a team full of returning injured players for Sunday’s PREM Rugby Cup clash with Gloucester Rugby at Ashton Gate.
James Dun and Jack Bates are passed fit from respective shoulder and hamstring injuries to start against the Cherry and Whites, joining Steven Luatua and Gabriel Ibitoye in the XV after the pair returned from their own leg and hamstring injuries in last weekend’s 8-3 win away at Exeter Chiefs in the Gallagher PREM.
It will be winger Ibitoye’s first start since injuring his hamstring against Leicester Tigers back in September in Round One of the Gallagher PREM.
Bristol director of rugby, Pat Lam, said: “After a long and successful 10-week block in the league and Investec Champions Cup, the PREM Rugby Cup provides a good opportunity for players who have recently returned from surgeries and long-term injuries to build up some game time ahead of the return to PREM action in March.
“Steven (Luatua) and Gabs (Ibitoye) made their first appearances for a number of months at Sandy Park last weekend and it’s great to have them back fit and available, while Rich Lane is another to recently return from surgery and a long layoff.
“Jack Bates and James Dun are also back for their first appearances since November, so the next few weeks provide a great chance for all of these guys to bank some gametime before we face Leicester Tigers at the end of March.
“It’s also an opportunity for our young Academy players to pull on a Bears shirt and continue their development playing alongside our experienced players. Seven have been named in our matchday squad and a further three who have graduated through our Academy pathway.”
Bristol head back into the PREM Rugby Cup sitting bottom of Pool A, but with four group stage games still to go, a run of wins could still propel them into the semi-finals in March.
Elsewhere in the team, there is a landmark day for Harry Thacker, who will make his 150th appearance for the club. The experienced hooker packs down alongside Max Lahiff and Academy tighthead Jimmy Halliwell in the front row, while in the backline Gabriel Ibitoye makes his first start since September having returned from a long-term hamstring injury.
Ibitoye starts in an experienced back three alongside last weekend’s try scorer Noah Heward and full back Rich Lane. Bates pairs up with Argentina international Benjamin Elizalde in midfield, while Academy fly-half Sam Worsley is named in the number 10 shirt.
Sam Wolstenholme starts at scrum half, while in the pack, Steven Luatua captains the side from the back row as he makes his second successive appearance since returning from long-term injury.
Georgian international Luka Ivanishvili is at openside with Argentina’s Ben Grondona at number eight.
The bench features fives current Academy players, with Tomas Gwilliam, Sam Scott, George Taylor, Raff Weston and Ollie Harris all included.
Bristol Bears: 15. Rich Lane (62 apps), 14. Noah Heward (36 apps), 13. Benjamin Elizalde (23 apps), 12. Jack Bates (59 apps), 11. Gabriel Ibitoye (62 apps), 10. Sam Worsley (31 apps), 9. Sam Wolstenholme (16 apps); 1. Max Lahiff (119 apps), 2. Harry Thacker (149 apps), 3. Jimmy Halliwell (21 apps), 4. James Dun (57 apps), 5. Joe Owen (52 apps), 6. Steven Luatua (c) (157 apps), 7. Luka Ivanishvili (7 apps), 8. Benjamin Grondona (32 apps).
Replacements: 16. Tomas Gwilliam (11 apps), 17. Sam Grahamslaw (20 apps), 18. Sam Scott (debut), 19. Steele Barker (8 apps), 20. George Taylor (7 apps), 21. Max Pepper (5 apps), 22. Raff Weston (2 apps), 23. Ollie Harris (1 app).
Gloucester Rugby: 15 George Barton, 14 Josh Hathaway, 13 Josiah Edwards Giraud, 12 Max Knight, 11 Ollie Thorley, 10 Charlie Atkinson, 9 Mikey Austin, 1 Dian Bleuler, 2 Seb Blake, 3 Afo Fasogbon, 4 Matias Alemanno, 5 Hugh Bokenham, 6 Will Trenholm, 7 Harry Taylor, 8 Jack Clement.
Replacements: 16 Manaaki Boyle Tiatia, 17 Archie McArthur, 18 Ciaran Knight, 19 Josh Basham, 20 James Venter, 21 Rhys Price, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Will Butler.