Team news: Bristol Bears vs Bath Rugby

Bristol Bears fly-half AJ MacGinty returns from a long-term Achilles injury, sustained on the opening day of the season against Leicester Tigers, for the Round 17 West Country derby against Bath Rugby at Ashton Gate on Friday night (7:45pm KO, live on TNT Sports). MacGinty partners Harry Randall at half-back, while head coach Pat Lam names an unchanged pack from Round 16, including skipper Fitz Harding and Argentinian international Santiago Grondona at number eight. Academy players Tomas Gwilliam, Jimmy Halliwell, and George Taylor are among the replacements, alongside internationals Kieran Marmion and Tom Jordan.