Bristol Bears’ pack will potentially be bolstered by the return of former All Black Steven Luatua and midseason signing Joe Batley when Northampton Saints come to Ashton Gate on Friday night.
Both men missed Bristol’s 15-13 derby victory away at Bath on Friday night, with flanker Luatua absent due to ‘personal family reasons’ while lock Batley suffered an ankle injury in the 30-12 win a week earlier against Newcastle Falcons.
The two men’s addition to the selection pool provides director of rugby Pat Lam with his strongest possible options in the back five of the scrum after Joyce Joyce [Achilles] and Sam Jeffries [hamstring] made their injury returns in the derby.