Noah Heward is set to make his comeback from injury as the Bristol Bears take on Argentina XV in an exhibition match at Ashton Gate. The game is scheduled for Friday night, with kickoff at 7:45 PM.
Bristol Bears Team Overview
The full-back Heward has recovered from an Achilles injury suffered during pre-season preparations. He will join a predominantly young squad featuring 12 Academy players. Eight of these players will start the match against the Argentine side.
Starting XV Highlights
- 15. Noah Heward – 28 career appearances
- 14. Evan Morris – 2 career appearances
- 13. Jack Bates – 56 career appearances
- 12. Victor Worsnip – 1 career appearance
- 11. Aidan Boshoff – 7 career appearances
- 10. Mat Protheroe – 36 career appearances
- 9. Sam Wolstenholme (Captain) – 10 career appearances
- 8. Paddy Pearce – 16 career appearances
Pat Lam, the team coach, has made several strategic choices with a mix of experience and youth. For example, Worsnip, who debuted last week, will pair with Bates in the midfield. Protheroe will shift to fly-half with Sam Wolstenholme directing play from scrum-half.
Bench Depth and Debuts
The bench also features seven Academy players. Notably, Ollie Harris and John Edwards are poised to make their senior debuts, alongside Will Ramply, who is returning for the season. Nathan Langdon is on the bench as well, having recently joined from Sale FC as short-term injury cover.
Unavailable Players
The Bristol Bears will miss several key players for this match, including:
- Ellis Genge
- Will Capon
- Harry Thacker
- Gabriel Oghre
- George Kloska
- Max Lahiff
- Santiago Grondona
- Others totaling 25 unavailable players
This exhibition match not only provides a competitive platform but also a chance for emerging talents from the Academy to showcase their skills. Fans eagerly anticipate an engaging encounter as the Bristol Bears face the Argentina XV at Ashton Gate.
