Ellis Genge has got his way after demanding he be allowed to make his Bristol return in Friday’s Premiership opener against Bath.
The England star has rejoined his home-town club, six years and 39 caps after leaving for Leicester.
Having been an ever-present in England’s series win over Australia it was assumed he would face the mandatory 10-week rest period.
But the 27-year old Bristolian, who captained Leicester to Premiership glory in June, informed Bears boss Pat Lam that him playing in the west country derby was a “non-negotiable”.
Lam said: “We put a plan in for Ellis and it started on the basis that he arrived here and saw the first game and said: ‘I am playing that game. No-one is stopping me.’
“That was his mindset, so we had to put a plan in place and how we would manage his game time going into November and then the Six Nations.”
Genge has swapped title-winning Tigers for a Bristol club that finished 10th, but such is his passion for the city that he can’t wait to pull on the jersey.
“He’s come home,” said Lam, who has cleared Genge's playing schedule with Eddie Jones. “Everyone is motivated by different things. As Ellis said me, this is his community, this is his home, he wants to represent his people again. That’s what drives him.”
London Irish have been assured that their season-opener against Worcester will go ahead on Saturday - despite serious doubt over Warriors’ future.
Exiles’ boss Declan Kidney revealed that his club sought and had received reassurances - and says they are braced for a fierce battle from Steve Diamond’s endangered club.
“We have nothing but respect for Worcester and Steve Diamond, and we know they can thrive on adversity,” Kidney added.
“They have too many good players, too much to play for. When it comes down to a pure rugby match you can actually use those things in your favour.
“And there is no better man to get them using them than Steve.”
Asked whether there was anything more dangerous than players unsure of their next payday, Kidney replied: “Absolutely not”.
He added: “People talk about getting their team up for a game. When that happens naturally and you don't have to say a word, they are always the most dangerous ones.
“Will they be highly motivated? It's human nature. I am sure it has been unbelievably stressful for everybody working there.”
France star Virimi Vakatawa has been forced to retire abruptly from rugby due to a heart “defect”.
The Racing 92 centre, who won 32 caps, was informed of the decision on Monday but the exact reason was only revealed yesterday.
The Fijian-born player’s club doctor Sylvain Blanchard said: “He has to finish his career in France due to a cardiological problem.
“A heart defect was detected before the 2019 World Cup in Japan. This defect which was not connected to rugby, has been constantly kept under observation but it is progressively deteriorating.”
France Rugby president Bernard Laporte tweeted a picture of the 30-year old with the message: “Thanks for everything that you have brought to French rugby”.
