GENGE IS ALL SET TO GRIN AND BEAR IT

ELLIS GENGE has got his way after insisting that he should be allowed to make his Bristol return in Friday’s Premiership opener against Bath.

The England star (above) has rejoined his hometown 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 “non-negotiable”.

Lam (below) 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 cannot 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 to 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 told their season opener against Worcester will go ahead on Saturday, despite serious doubts over Warriors’ future.

Exiles boss Declan Kidney says they are braced for a fierce battle from Steve Diamond’s endangered side.

“We have nothing but respect for Worcester and Steve Diamond and we know they can thrive on adversity,” said Kidney.

“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 said: “Absolutely not. When that happens and you don’t have to say a word, they are always the most dangerous.”

■ France star Virimi Vakatawa, 30, has been forced to retire abruptly from rugby due to a heart “defect”.

The Racing 92 centre’s club doctor Sylvain Blanchard said: “He has to finish his career in France due to a cardiological problem.”