Ellis Genge: Injury rules England prop out of Bristol Champions Cup clash with Lyon, expected back for 2024 Six Nations
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Updated 08/12/2023 at 15:38 GMT
Bristol Bears' European campaign begins with the visit of French side Lyon on Saturday night, but they will be without star prop Ellis Genge. The England international picked up a hamstring injury in training, but is expected to return to fitness in time for the 2024 Six Nations starting in February next year. The Investec Champions Cup kicks off this weekend live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Ellis Genge of Bristol Bears looks on during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Bristol Bears and Gloucester Rugby at Ashton Gate on December 02, 2023 in Bristol, England
Image credit: Getty Images
Ellis Genge has been ruled out of Bristol Bears’ opening Investec Champions Cup match against Lyon with a hamstring injury, but should recover in time to feature for England at the 2024 Six Nations.
The prop sustained the issue during a training session and will sit out the Bears’ European opener at Ashton Gate.
Bristol face Lyon on Saturday night live on TNT Sports, with kick-off at 20:00 UK time.
“Genge picked up a hamstring injury in training but is expected to return to action ahead of England’s 2024 Six Nations campaign,” read an update on the Bristol Bears website.
In better news for the Gallagher Premiership side, Scotland international Magnus Bradbury returns from injury to line up at number eight against Lyon.
Jake Woolmore replaces Genge in the front row, while director of rugby Pat Lam has named an unchanged back line from the rampant 51-26 Premiership win over Gloucester on Saturday.
“We’ve spoken a lot this week about the excitement and privilege of playing in the Champions Cup and challenging ourselves against some of the best sides in Europe,” said Lam.
“We know the strength and challenge that Lyon will pose on Saturday night, but we’re looking forward to taking on a quality outfit in front of our supporters.”
The Bears are in Pool 1 with Saracens, Connacht, Lyon, Vodacom Bulls and Union Bordeaux-Begles.
Lam’s side have had a slow start in the Premiership, winning three of their eight matches to sit eighth in the standings approaching the halfway stage of the 2023-24 season.
But their handsome win over Gloucester last time out will boost confidence as the European campaign begins this weekend.
The first of four rounds of pool matches starts on Friday, December 8 as Glasgow Warriors face Northampton Saints, and Connacht Rugby take on Union Bordeaux Begles, live on TNT Sports.
HOW TO WATCH 2023/24 INVESTEC CHAMPIONS CUP
TNT Sports is the place to watch every minute of the 2023/24 Investec Champions Cup.
All 12 games from each round will be available to watch live on TNT Sports on discovery+.
TNT Sports will show every game from the knockout stages as the race to be crowned kings of Europe reaches its conclusion in May's London showpiece.
The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.
You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.
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TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media
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