Author

Tom Tainton writes

Posted Friday, January 21st 2022 @thomastainton

Team news: Scarlets vs Bristol Bears - HC R4

Friday, January 21st 2022

Dan Thomas will make his 100^th competitive appearance when Bristol face Scarlets in the Heineken Champions Cup on Saturday (5.30pm KO).

Dan Thomas set for 100th cap
Bryan Byrne returns to starting line-up for first time since May 2021
Siva Naulago named on the bench after long injury layoff

The back rower – who joined the club in 2017 having graduated through the Scarlets Academy - is one of four changes to the line-up.

Bears go in search of a highest-ranking seeding of the sixteen teams, having already clinched a spot in the knockout stages.

Bryan Byrne makes a welcome return to the starting line-up for the first time since 8th May 2021 in the away victory over Bath, while Siva Naulago could make his first outing of the campaign from the replacements bench after breaking his arm during pre-season.

Charles Piutau comes into an exciting backline with Ioan Lloyd switching to midfield, while Ed Holmes is named in the second row.

Bristol Bears team to face Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday, January 22^nd (5.30pm KO):

15.Charles Piutau (56 apps); 14. Luke Morahan (89 apps), 13. Semi Radradra (27 apps), 12. Ioan Lloyd (53 apps), 11. Henry Purdy (32 apps); 10. Callum Sheedy (120 apps), 9. Harry Randall (76 apps); 1. Jake Woolmore (94 apps), 2. Bryan Byrne (22 apps), 3. Kyle Sinckler (29 apps), 4. 19. Ed Holmes (79 apps), 5. Joe Joyce (137 apps) (c), 6. Chris Vui (79 apps), 7. Dan Thomas (99 apps), 8. Fitz Harding (20 apps).

System players: 16. Harry Thacker (63 apps), 17. Yann Thomas (79 apps), 18. John Afoa (77 apps), 19. John Hawkins (28 apps), 20. Steven Luatua (86 apps), 21. Andy Uren (126 apps), 22. Piers O’Conor (93 apps), 23. Siva Naulago (11 apps).

Unavailable: Dave Attwood, Sam Jeffries, Sam Bedlow, Toby Fricker, Alapati Leiua, Jack Bates.