Rugby Lam names Bears side to face Gloucester at Kingsholm

CENTRE star Benhard Janse van Rensburg and rising tighthead talent George Kloska will both miss Bristol Bears’ PREM Rugby Cup game away at Gloucester tonight after picking up ‘bumps’ away at Sale Sharks on Saturday, writes John Evely.

- John Evely

The Bears were beaten 29-15 at the Salford Community Stadium in Round One of the competition and saw both key men suffer minor injuries, but Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam is confident they will be available for the opening round of the Gallagher PREM a week on Sunday, when last season’s beaten finalists Leicester Tigers come to Ashton Gate.

Lam said: “Ideally you want to take squads of 28 or 30 guys and manage players in preseason, but you can only pick 23 players in these cup games. Normally in preseason games if a guy gets a bit of a niggle you get him off, but there is always that risk factor ahead of the PREM.

“Benhard and George will be fine for next week, but that is the perfect example. If you get knocks like that a week out from the start of the competition it impacts on whether they can train, but it is the same for everyone. Those guys that went off were a precaution and they will be ready by the time the PREM comes around.”