It's team news day.
The Gallagher Premiership returns on Easter weekend as Bristol Bears host Leicester Tigers at Ashton Gate on Sunday in Round 14.
Bristol come into the game off the back of a two-week break having not been involved in the knockout stages of Europe this season. The Bears are looking to tighten up their defence this weekend having fallen to a heavy 53-28 defeat to Gloucester at Kingsholm last time out.
Leicester have been quietly going about their business and head into the weekend in third place in the standings despite going down 22-29 at home to Saracens on their last Premiership outing. Tigers also lost 43-19 to Glasgow Warriors a week later in the last 16 knockout round of the Investec Champions Cup.
Team news is out at midday on Friday.
The game kicks off at 3pm on Sunday afternoon.
Follow all the build-up and official team news announcements with regular updates below...
Key Events
Bristol Bears unavailable list
Bristol Bears team news headlines
Leicester Tigers team news
Bristol Bears team news
KEY EVENT
Bristol Bears unavailable list
Unavailable: Lovejoy Chawatama, Steele Barker, Joe Owen, George Taylor, Santiago Grondona, Harry Byrne, Sam Worsley, Noah Heward, Harry Rowson, Siva Naulago, Max Malins.
KEY EVENT
Bristol Bears team news headlines
- Winger Gabriel Ibitoye returns on the wing for the round 14 meeting with third-place Tigers, making his first appearance since January.
- Kalaveti Ravouvou switches to outside centre to partner Benhard Janse van Rensburg
- Fly-half AJ MacGinty makes his first start since the return fixture at Mattioli Woods Welford Road in December.
- In the pack, there’s a return for Joe Batley, partnering James Dun – making his 50th competitive appearance
- George Kloska is back at tighthead having missed the round 13 fixture at Kingsholm.
- Fitz Harding captains from the openside flank, while Steven Luatua makes his 149th competitive appearance for the club from the blindside.
KEY EVENT
Leicester Tigers team news
— Leicester Tigers (@LeicesterTigers) April 18, 2025TEAM LIST
Your Tigers side for our Easter Sunday showdown with @BristolBears! #COYT pic.twitter.com/xgR5fko6PI
KEY EVENT
Bristol Bears team news
Bristol Bears: 15. Rich Lane (56 apps), 14. Jack Bates (51 apps), 13. Kalaveti Ravouvou (26 apps), 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (44 apps), 11. Gabriel Ibitoye (53 apps), 10. AJ MacGinty (47 apps), 9. Harry Randall (140 apps); 1. Ellis Genge (56 apps), 2. Gabriel Oghre (37 apps), 3. George Kloska (59 apps), 4. James Dun (49 apps), 5. Joe Batley (71 apps), 6. Steven Luatua (148 apps), 7. Fitz Harding (c) (91 apps), 8. Viliame Mata (12 apps).
Replacements: 16. Harry Thacker (129 apps), 17. Yann Thomas (126 apps), 18. Max Lahiff (105 apps), 19. Josh Caulfield (32 apps), 20. Jake Heenan (121 apps), 21. Kieran Marmion (46 apps), 22. James Williams (50 apps), 23. Joe Jenkins (25 apps).
John Evely
Bristol Bears injury latest ahead of Leicester: Gabriel Ibitoye set to return
Winger Gabriel Ibitoye is set to return to action for the first time since January, Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam has confirmed.
Ibitoye initially injured his hamstring but then tweaked a calf injury in training to extend his absence.
Speaking on Wednesday, Lam said:
"He's training well, he'll be available for selection this week.
"You don't realise how much he brings until he's actually gone and then when he's come back you see the huge difference, when he started training a few weeks ago, integrating into the sessions."
"He's massive for us, a brilliant player. I don't believe there's a lot of players in the country like him on the wing and his ability to make things happen, his work rate's huge," added Lam.
"He's buzzing to get back. It's been a long time, probably one of the longest times he's been out."
John Evely
This weekend's officials
Referee: Karl Dickson
Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley and John Meredith
TMO: Dean Richards
John Evely
How things stand in the table heading into the weekend
John Evely
Welcome
Hello and welcome.
The Gallagher Premiership is back after a three week break as Bristol Bears host Leicester Tigers at Ashton Gate on Sunday in Round 14 in another battle of the play-off contenders.
Who else is excited?
