Leicester Tigers name team to play Bristol Bears
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Geoff Parling has named the first Leicester Tigers matchday squad of the 25/26 Gallagher PREM season.
The league campaign kicks off away to Bristol Bears on Sunday (Sept. 28) at Ashton Gate.
International trio Joe Heyes, Jack van Poortvliet, and Freddie Steward will make their first appearance of the season after being unavailable for selection through the opening fortnight of the PREM Rugby Cup.
Solomone Kata is also in line for his first run out of the season after being included on the bench.
The starting side includes three players who will make their PREM debut for the club in Orlando Bailey, Jamie Blamire, and James Thompson, while the bench features four players in line for their first PREM appearance for Leicester Tigers in Tarek Haffar, Joshua Manz, Joaquin Moro, and Billy Searle.
Thompson, Manz, and Moro will make not only their club debuts in the competition but also their maiden appearance in the Gallagher PREM.
In what will be a double milestone, Ollie Hassell-Collins and Emeka Ilione will both reach a half-century of appearances for the club on Sunday.
Hanro Liebenberg will captain the side in the absence of Ollie Chessum, who is unavailable until Round 3 after touring with the British & Irish Lions in the summer. The South African and van Poortvliet were appointed vice captains to Chessum by Parling earlier this week.
Fellow Leicester and England lock George Martin is also unavailable following shoulder surgery this summer. On Martin's rehabilitation, Parling said: “As with any nerve injuries, the timeframe on George’s availability is slightly unknown, but to give George the best chance to perform, we know it won’t be during the first half of this season.”
Other players not available for selection for the PREM opener are: Finn Carnduff, Lewis Chessum, Kesena Izu, Jack Kinder, Tonga Kofe, Tom Manz, Wilf McCarthy, Charlie Myall, Izaia Perese, Tommy Reffell, and Samuel Williams.
STARTING XV
15 Freddie Steward [111]
14 Adam Radwan [12]
13 Will Wand [13]
12 Joseph Woodward [35]
11 Ollie Hassell-Collins [49]
10 Orlando Bailey [1]
9 Jack van Poortvliet [96]
1 Nicky Smith [25]
2 Jamie Blamire [1]
3 Joe Heyes [163]
4 Cameron Henderson [65]
5 James Thompson [1] **
6 Hanro Liebenberg (c) [133]
7 Emeka Ilione [49]
8 Olly Cracknell [67]
REPLACEMENTS
16 Charlie Clare [125]
17 Tarek Haffar [1]
18 Will Hurd [51]
19 Joshua Manz [10] **
20 Joaquin Moro [2] **
21 Tom Whiteley [42]
22 Billy Searle [1]
23 Solomone Kata [44]
** Gallagher PREM debut
