Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Lam delighted to agree a new deal with Thomas
YANN Thomas has penned a new contract with hometown club Bristol Bears – although the loosehead prop sits out today’s Gallagher Premiership clash away to Leicester Tigers.
The Bristolian front rower misses out on the action this afternoon, with Ellis Genge starting in the number one shirt and Jake Woolmore on the bench.
Thomas will takes his stay at the Bears into a sixth season, having made more than 100 appearances for the Ashton Gate club.
He came to Bristol from French club Rouen, having also clocked up over 100 games for Gloucester.
Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam said: “Yann is a Bears centurion and has been an outstanding servant to this club over the last six seasons, so we’re delighted to have him commit here. Not only is he a proven topclass operator at Premiership and European level, with vast experience, he’s also a senior leader around our team who is always willing to help or mentor his teammates on and off the field. That will be hugely important to our young and exciting squad next season, which is pleasing .”
Thomas himself added: “As a local boy who grew up just a stone’s throw from Ashton Gate, representing this great club is always a proud moment, so I’m pleased to have extended my stay here.
“It’s a young squad with bags of potential, playing an exciting brand of rugby and it’s my role, as one of the senior experienced players, to continue to be a leader and set an example on and off the pitch.”
For the trip to Welford Road, Joe Batley returns from injury for the Bears. The second row has recovered from a rib injury sustained against Gloucester in round 14 to take his place in the engine room alongside James Dun, with Lam naming an otherwise unchanged starting XV.
Among the replacements, there is a long-awaited return for Harry Thacker, who should make his first appearance since December.
George Skivington has made 11 changes to his Gloucester Rugby side for the home clash with Exeter in the Premiership tomorrow.
The Cherry & Whites line-up to face the Chiefs is more experiencedlooking than the one beaten away to Saracens last weekend.
Jake Morris shifts from wing to full-back, with Jonny May and Ollie Thorley playing wide.
Chris Harris partners Max Llewellyn in the centres, with Stephen
Varney coming in to join Charlie Atkinson at half-back.
In the front row, Seb Blake lines up between Jamal Ford-Robinson and Kirill Gotovtsev, while Freddie Clarke comes in alongside Arthur Clark at lock, and Ruan Ackermann and Jack Clement start either side of Zach Mercer, who captains the side from the number eight position.
Unusually, Gloucester name two scrum-halves on the bench in Caolan Englefield and Charlie Chapman.
The National Leagues conclude this afternoon with Cinderford at home to Bishop’s Stortford, and Taunton at Blackheath in Division One, while Two West champions Dings Crusaders can go out an enjoy themselves at home to Camborne.