Connon a starter as Red Bulls aim to bounce back

BRETT Connon starts for Newcastle Red Bulls tonight when Bristol Bears are the Gallagher PREM visitors to Kingston Park.

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The fly-half returns for the 7.45pm kickoff, with fullback Josh Hodge starting his first home game for the club.

Murray McCallum and Adam Brocklebank both return at prop, while lock Finn Baker makes his first PREM start.

On the bench there is a return for fit-again back-rower Amanaki Mafi, with head coach Stephen Jones determined to see a response from last week’s 62-3 loss at Leicester Tigers.

“We fell short in certain aspects last week, and let's see a response on Friday against Bristol,” said Jones.

“Leicester brought a physical game and we made life difficult for ourselves with an early yellow card followed by a 20-minute red, and it's a huge ask playing with 13 men against a top side.