Eight players involved with their international sides during the Autumn Nations Series return to Northampton Saints’ matchday squad tonight, including British & Irish Lions Dan Biggar and Courtney Lawes.

The men in Black, Green and Gold lock horns with Bristol Bears in Round 9 of the Gallagher Premiership (kick-off: 7.45pm), as they revert to league action following two weekends of the Premiership Rugby Cup.

Northampton will be looking for their first win at Ashton Gate since 2018, with another nail-biting encounter on the cards in the West Country – five of the last six matches between the sides have been decided by a one-score margin or less.

Lewis Ludlam returns from the England camp to lead out Saints, and the flanker is joined in the back row by Lawes (who skippered the Red Rose twice this month) and No.8 Juarno Augustus.

David Ribbans and Alex Moon line-up in Northampton’s engine room, while props Alex Waller and Paul Hill start either side of James Fish at hooker in the front row for the men in Black, Green and Gold.

Wales fly-half Biggar pulls on the No.10 jersey for Saints and is joined in the half-back berths by Alex Mitchell, after the 24-year-old made his England debut against Tonga.

Fraser Dingwall and Matt Proctor are selected together in Northampton’s midfield for the fifth time this season, while George Furbank and Tommy Freeman also return from the England camp and slot straight into the back three alongside South African wing Courtnall Skosan.

Amongst the replacements there’s room for Fiji internationals Sam Matavesi and Api Ratuniyarawa, while the likes of Tom James, Rory Hutchinson and Josh Gillespie – who caught the eye with two tries in two Premiership Rugby Cup appearances – will also be looking to make an impact off the bench.

BRISTOL BEARS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Round 9

Friday 26 November 2021

Ashton Gate Stadium

Kick-off: 7.45pm

15 George Furbank

14 Tommy Freeman

13 Matt Proctor

12 Fraser Dingwall

11 Courtnall Skosan

10 Dan Biggar

9 Alex Mitchell

1 Alex Waller

2 James Fish

3 Paul Hill

4 David Ribbans

5 Alex Moon

6 Courtney Lawes

7 Lewis Ludlam (c)

8 Juarno Augustus

Replacements:

16 Sam Matavesi

17 Emmanuel Iyogun

18 Conor Carey

19 Api Ratuniyarawa

20 Karl Wilkins

21 Tom James

22 Rory Hutchinson

23 Josh Gillespie

Not considered for selection:

Matthew Arden, Callum Burns, Piers Francis, Teimana Harrison, Oisín Heffernan, Dani Long-Martinez, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Kayde Sylvester, Ahsee Tuala and Tom Wood.

Referee: Karl Dickson

Assistant referees: Philip Watters and Jonathan Healy

No.4: Dan Jones

TMO: Ian Tempest