UPDATE: The highly anticipated clash between Bristol Bears and Sale Sharks is set to ignite at 7:45 PM tonight at Ashton Gate Stadium. This marks the final festive fixture of the holiday period, with both teams eager to prove themselves after a dismal 38-0 defeat to Sale last season.
Kick-off is just moments away! Fans can catch the live action on TNT Sports 1 and stream it online via discovery+, with coverage starting at 7:00 PM. If you’re unable to watch, BBC Radio Bristol will provide live commentary to keep you connected to every play.
For those attending the match, BristolLive will also deliver live updates, team news, and in-depth analysis throughout the evening, ensuring you won’t miss a second of the excitement.
Team News and Lineups
Both teams have announced their starting lineups ahead of this crucial encounter:
Bristol Bears: 15. Louis Rees-Zammit, 14. Aidan Boshoff, 13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12. James Williams, 11. Kalaveti Ravouvou, 10. Tom Jordan, 9. Harry Randall; 1. Ellis Genge, 2. Gabriel Oghre, 3. Lovejoy Chawatama, 4. Pedro Rubiolo, 5. Joe Owen, 6. Santiago Grondona, 7. Fitz Harding (c), 8. Viliame Mata. Replacements include Harry Thacker, Max Lahiff, George Kloska, George Taylor, Benjamin Grondona, Kieran Marmion, Sam Worsley, and Noah Heward.
Sale Sharks: 15. Joe Carpenter, 14. Tom O’Flaherty, 13. Rob du Preez, 12. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 11. Alex Wills, 10. George Ford, 9. Raffi Quirke; 1. Bevan Rodd, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. James Harper, 4. Ben Bamber, 5. Ernst van Rhyn ©, 6. Jacques Vermeulen, 7. Sam Dugdale, 8. Tom Curry. Their replacements include Nathan Jibulu, Si McIntyre, Patreece Bell, Tom Burrow, Jos Gilmore, Gus Warr, Marius Louw, and Gurshwin Wehr.
Match Officials
The officiating team for tonight’s match includes referee Joe James, with assistant referees Craig Maxwell-Keys and Greg Macdonald. The TMO is David Rose.
This match is expected to be a thrilling showdown as both teams battle for vital points in the Gallagher Premiership. Stay tuned for live updates and analysis as the action unfolds!
