Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Redpath is recalled as Bath tackle La Rochelle
CAMERON Redpath will make his long-awaited return to the Bath Rugby starting line-up when they play La Rochelle in the European Champions Cup in France this afternoon.
Scotland international Redpath – the son of former Gloucester Rugby head coach Bryan Redpath – has been rehabilitating since injuring his knee against Sale Sharks in May and has worked incredibly hard, along with the club’s medical team, to return to fitness.
Making his 23rd appearance for the Blue, Black and Whites, Redpath will line-up at fly-half with Orlando Bailey, Danny Cipriani, Tian Schoeman, Max Ojomoh and Tom de Glanville all unavailable due to one injury or another.
Tom Prydie and Jonathan Joseph are the only two players in the backline who started the win over Worcester Warriors. Ben Spencer and Will Muir return to the matchday squad, while full-back Ruaridh McConnochie and centre Max Clark have been promoted to the starting XV for the match against last term’s Champions Cup runners-up.
After completing 78 minutes as a replacement against Worcester last week, D’Arcy Rae comes in for the injured Will Stuart, while Juan Schoeman replaces another injuryenforced absentee in Lewis Boyce, while hooker Tom Doughty will earn his European debut.
Josh McNally and Charlie Ewels continue in the second row of the scrum, while the back row also remains unchanged with Ewan Richards, Tom Ellis and Josh Bayliss retaining their places.
On the bench, Russia prop Valery Morozov is set for his Bath Rugby debut with Will Butt in line for a first European appearance.
Bath Rugby: R McConnochie; T Prydie, J Joseph, M Clark, W Muir; C Redpath, B Spencer; J Schoeman, T Doughty, D Rae, J McNally, C Ewels (capt), T Ellis, E Richards, J Bayliss. Replacements: J du Toit, V Morozov, J Jonker, W Spencer, M Williams, J Simpson, W Butt, G Hamer-Webb.
Bristol Bears will finally begin their European Champions Cup campaign with a home game against French outfit Stade Francais at Ashton Gate this evening.
Pat Lam’s Bears had both of their European fixtures called off prior to Christmas, so will be raring to go in tonight’s match-up.
Lam makes one change from the side that overcame Sale Sharks in the Gallagher Premiership last weekend as Piers O’Conor comes in for Sam Bedlow (shoulder). He partners Fiji star Semi Radradra in the centres, while Joe Joyce skippers the side from the second row.
Skipper Steven Luatua is listed among the replacements, while Antoine Frisch is also included in the 23-man squad.
Bristol Bears: L Morahan; I Lloyd, S Radradra, P O’Conor, H Purdy; C Sheedy, H Randall; M Lahiff, W Capon, K Sinckler, J Hawkins, J Joyce (capt), C Vui, D Thomas, F Harding. Replacements: J Kerr, J Woolmore, J Afoa, E Holmes, S Luatua, A Uren, A Frisch, J Bates.
Hartpury welcome dual-registered prop Ciaran Knight back into their starting line-up for this afternoon’s trip to Coventry.
Knight’s last appearance was as a replacement in Gloucester’s hugelyimpressive Premiership away victory over Saracens last weekend, so the Red & Blacks’ scrum should be in safe hands, particularly with Knight’s cousin Shaun on the bench.
Bristol Bears number eight Mitch Eadie is also in the Hartpury line-up as the Gloucestershire side look to improve upon their current sixth place in the Championship.
Meanwhile, Tommy Mathews is on the bench following the conclusion of a short spell at Premiership side Wasps.
Cinderford slipped six points off the National League One lead held by Rosslyn Park last weekend and today host seventh-placed Chinnor as they look to get back on track.
The Gloucestershire side will be hoping for a favour from their West Country neighbours Taunton Titans, who host Rosslyn Park.
The Titans come into the game having earned a solid victory over Darlington Mowden Park last week.
Clifton took over at the top of National League Two South a week ago and today travel to Barnes – the team that helped them to the summit by winning at Redruth.
Dings Crusaders, meanwhile, have a trip away to fellow mid-table side Guernsey.