Team news: Bristol Bears vs Saracens - GP R9

Friday, November 4th 2022

Gabriel Ibitoye will make his Bristol Bears debut when league leaders Saracens visit Ashton Gate on Saturday (5pm KO).

Gabriel Ibitoye set for Bears debut
Homegrown duo Joe Jenkins and Deago Bailey make first league starts
Jay Tyack and Will Porter both start at Ashton Gate

The 24-year-old former Harlequins flyer makes his first appearance for the club since arriving from Tel-Aviv Heat in the summer.

Pat Lam includes two Gallagher Premiership debutants in the back line, with Academy duo Deago Bailey and Joe Jenkins set for their first league appearances for the Bears.

Nineteen-year-old Jenkins lines up in the midfield alongside Sam Bedlow, while England U20 wing Bailey joins Ibitoye and the experienced Luke Morahan in the back three.

Scrum-half Will Porter and prop Jay Tyack will also make their first starts for the club.

Jake Heenan captains the side from the back row, while on the bench, Ioan Lloyd is set for his first league appearance of the season.

Bristol Bears team to face Saracens at Ashton Gate on Saturday (5pm KO):

15. Luke Morahan (104 apps), 14. Deago Bailey (3 apps), 13. Joe Jenkins (1 app), 12. Sam Bedlow (54 apps), 11. Gabriel Ibitoye (debut), 10. Callum Sheedy (139 apps), 9. Will Porter (1 app); 1. Yann Thomas (94 apps), 2. Bryan Byrne (36 apps), 3. Jay Tyack (1 app), 4. Ed Holmes (91 apps), 5. Joe Batley (23 apps), 6. Magnus Bradbury (6 apps), 7. Jake Heenan (c) (75 apps), 8. Fitz Harding (35 apps).

System players: 16. Harry Thacker (81 apps), 17. Jake Woolmore (115 apps), 18. Jonathan Benz-Salomon (8 apps), 19. John Hawkins (41 apps), 20. Dan Thomas (114 apps), 21. Andy Uren (141 apps), 22. Ioan Lloyd (64 apps), 23. Jack Bates (29 apps).

Unavailable: Ellis Genge, Kyle Sinckler, Max Lahiff, Will Capon, Chris Vui, Joe Joyce, Steven Luatua, Sam Jeffries, Sam Lewis, Harry Randall, Tom Whiteley, AJ MacGinty, Semi Radradra, Piers O’Conor, Siva Naulago, Toby Fricker, Charles Piutau.