Bristol Bears vs Leicester Tigers team news: Louis Rees-Zammit starts in Gallagher PREM opener | Bristol Live

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Louis Rees-Zammit will make his first Gallagher PREM start for Bristol Bears on Sunday after being named on the wing to face Leicester Tigers in the opening round of the 2025/26 competition.

The Welsh winger, who returned from 18 months trying to make it in the NFL, has got enough training under his belt to earn the confidence of his director of rugby Pat Lam that he is ready.

He is joined in the side by new signing Tom Jordan, with the Scotland star lining up at full back.

Leicester may have a new head coach in the form of their former lock Geoff Parling, but Bears boss Lam is confident he knows what to expect from Tigers. He said: "I think the big thing is Geoff is a Leicester man and he knows their DNA. He has come off a successful time coaching with Australia under Joe Schmidt and has come straight in after the Lions series. There are other coaches who have been there before and most importantly they have lots of quality players, lots of international players, led well by JvP and Ollie Chessum, those sorts of players.

"Leicester don't change too much in terms of what they are good at and they were finalists last season. I don't expect too much change in their DNA and how they want to play and that is why we are looking forward to the game because it is tough challenge for us."

The game kicks off at 3.30pm on Sunday.

Bristol Bears: 15. Tom Jordan (1 app), 14. Louis Rees-Zammit (2 apps), 13. Joe Jenkins (28 apps), 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (51 apps), 11. Gabriel Ibitoye (60 apps), 10. AJ MacGinty (55 apps), 9. Harry Randall (147 apps); 1. Jake Woolmore (170 apps), 2. Gabriel Oghre (44 apps), 3. George Kloska (66 apps), 4. James Dun (53 apps), 5. Joe Batley (76 apps), 6. Steven Luatua (153 apps), 7. Fitz Harding (c) (99 apps), 8. Benjamin Grondona (22 apps).

Replacements: 16. Harry Thacker (134 apps), 17. Sam Grahamslaw (14 apps), 18. Lovejoy Chawatama (7 apps), 19. Joe Owen (37 apps), 20. Viliame Mata (18 apps), 21. Kieran Marmion (53 apps), 22. Kalaveti Ravouvou (32 apps), 23. Josh Carrington (1 app).

Leicester Tigers: 15 Freddie Steward [111], 14 Adam Radwan [12], 13 Will Wand [13], 12 Joseph Woodward [35], 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins [49], 10 Orlando Bailey [1], 9 Jack van Poortvliet [96], 1 Nicky Smith [25], 2 Jamie Blamire [1], Joe Heyes [163], 4 Cameron Henderson [65], 5 James Thompson [1], 6 Hanro Liebenberg (c) [133], 7 Emeka Ilione [49], 8 Olly Cracknell [67]

Replacements: 16 Charlie Clare [125], 17 Tarek Haffar [1], 18 Will Hurd [51], 19 Joshua Manz [10], 20 Joaquin Moro [2], 21 Tom Whiteley [42], 22 Billy Searle [1], 23 Solomone Kata [44]