Charles Piutau returns for Bristol Bears for clash against Newcastle

Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam has named Charles Piutau at fullback for the fifth round of the Gallagher Premiership against Newcastle to be played at Ashton Gate on Friday.

Piutau has been declared fit after Fiji skipper Semi Radradra returned in the previous game against Harlequins. His inclusion is one of the seven changes made by Lam after a Bristol player was tested positive for Covid-19 earlier in the week.

Ed Holmes, Ben Earl, Dan Thomas, Siale Piutau and Max Malins are all provided rest week with Peter McCabe, George Kloska and Jake Armstrong forming a new look front-row option with Dave Attwood and Joe Joyce at second row.

Skipper Steven Luatua is joined by Jake Heenan and Nathan Hughes at back row with Callum Sheedy taking the kicking responsibility with Andy Uren at scrum-half.

Siva Naulago and Ioan Lloyd have retained their position at wings while Radradra and Piers O'Conor are at outside and inside centre respectively.

Bristol Bears are positioned third in the Gallagher Premiership table with three wins from four games.

Bristol starting XV: 15 Charles Piutau; 14 Siva Naulago, 13 Semi Radradra, 12 Piers O'Conor, 11 Ioan Lloyd; 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Andy Uren; 1 Peter McCabe, 2 George Kloska, 3 Jake Armstrong, 4 Dave Attwood, 5 Joe Joyce, 6 Steven Luatua (c), 7 Jake Heenan, 8 Nathan Hughes

Reserves: 16 Aaron Thompson, 17 Andrew Turner, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 John Hawkins, 20 Fitz Harding, 21 Harry Randall, 22 Alapati Leiua, 23 Luke Morahan