Lee Mears makes 250th appearance for Bath against Wasps
Bath Rugby hooker Lee Mears will make his 250th appearance for the Club against London Wasps tomorrow at the Recreation Ground, kick-off 14.15, for their first home game of the 2012/13 Aviva Premiership season.
Mears, who has played all his club rugby with the West Country side, has 42 caps for England and toured with the British and Irish Lions in 2009. He retired from international rugby this summer.
He will scrum down alongside Nathan Catt and David Wilson, with Stuart Hooper and Dominic Day continuing their second row partnership. Simon Taylor returns from injury and replaces Francois Louw, who is on international duty with South Africa. Taylor comes in on the blindside, with Carl Fearns switching to openside and Ben Skirving starting at number 8.
Olly Barkley is named once more at fly-half, alongside half-back partner Michael Claassens.
There are no changes to the backline that faced Worcester last weekend, with Tom Biggs and Kyle Eastmond out wide on the wings, Matt Banahan and Dan Hipkiss combining in the centres and Nick Abendanon at fullback.
Head Coach, Gary Gold, said; “To make 250 appearances for a club is a great achievement in professional rugby, and it’s a testament both to Lee’s ability and his attitude as a player that he has reached it, as well as appearing for his country and the Lions.
“Whilst we were pleased with the eventual result at Sixways last weekend, we were very frustrated to not perform the way we know we can and have in pre-season.
“Dai Young has done some excellent work at Wasps, and they will be looking to bounce straight back from the result against Quins. They outplayed the champions for large periods of the game, so we know they with challenge us all over the park, and it is a challenge we must rise to.”
Bath Rugby team to face London Wasps
15. Nick Abendanon
14. Kyle Eastmond
13. Dan Hipkiss
12. Matt Banahan
11. Tom Biggs
10. Olly Barkley
9. Michael Claassens
1. Nathan Catt
2. Lee Mears
3. David Wilson
4. Stuart Hooper (c)
5. Dominic Day
6. Simon Taylor
7. Carl Fearns
8. Ben Skirving
Replacements
16. Ross Batty
17. Paul James
18. Kane Palma-Newport
19. Dave Attwood
20. Josh Ovens
21. Mark McMillan
22. Ollie Devoto
23. Jack Cuthbert
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