Bristol Bears face Bath Rugby at the Recreation Ground on Saturday in Round Five of the 2025/26 Gallagher PREM

09:54, 22 Oct 2025Updated 09:55, 22 Oct 2025

Ellis Genge of Bristol Bears offloads the ball after being tackled by Tom Dunn and Finn Russell of Bath Rugby (Photo by Patrick Khachfe/Getty Images)

Bristol Bears will have British and Irish Lions prop Ellis Genge in their ranks for Saturday’s Round 5 Gallagher PREM clash with Bath Rugby with the voices of the club’s locals becoming louder and more prominent in derby week.

Genge missed Bristol’s 49-34 victory over Gloucester on Friday after the independent match doctor said he required an HIA following a knock in the 18-14 victory over Exeter Chiefs the weekend before. But the powerful loosehead is available for selection this weekend, having been given the all clear by the medical staff. He spent the first half of the week away in an England training camp ahead of the Autumn internationals, but will check back in at the club’s training base on Wednesday to prepare for the derby clash.

Elsewhere in the pack, Flanker Steven Luatua is a significant doubt for the trip to the Recreation Ground, where Bristol were beaten 34-20 in the play-off semi-final on their last visit. The former All Black strained his calf at Kingsholm and is being wrapped in cotton wool.

Speaking in his midweek press conference, Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam said: “He has a bit of a leg strain. He is touch-and-go. We will see and manage his week. It helps that we are having a reduced training week for everyone. That certainly helps him.”

Lam also confirmed that winger Max Pepper will be sidelined for six to eight weeks after suffering a hamstring strain against the Cherry and Whites, and flying full-back Rich Lane will not be back any time soon after his neck and shoulder injury failed to recover as hoped, with the club deciding surgery is the best route forward. Lam said: “Rich Lane is having surgery just to free up the nerve in his neck. We are hoping we will be back over the Christmas or New Year period.”

However, Lam’s selection pool in the backline has been topped up by Jack Bates and Josh Carrington, both coming back into the mix after passing all their Return to Play Protocols after both failing HIAs against Exeter.

Yesterday, injured winger Louis Rees-Zammit was recalled to the Wales squad ahead of the Autumn internationals after a 20-month absence having left rugby to pursue a career in the NFL, only to return to the sport this summer, swapping Gloucester for Bristol at club level.

Providing an injury update on Rees-Zammit, who suffered a foot injury away at Saracens, Lam said: “He is rehabbing at the moment. He will not be available for this game here, but his rehab is going really well. Wales’ medical team are happy that he is on track.”

Lam indicated that he expects Rees-Zammit to be available to face Argentina at the Principality Stadium on November 9.