The Prem: Six Nations internationals start as league returns from break

Captain Ollie Chessum is among a host of internationals to immediately return to Leicester Tigers duties in the Prem a week after the Six Nations came to an end.

Chessum, Joe Heyes, and Jack van Poortvliet, who is named on the bench for Tigers, all featured in England’s defeat by France, while Olly Cracknell and Nicky Smith were in action for Wales against Italy just a week ago.

The availability of the internationals means there are several changes made to the Tigers side that claimed the Prem Cup trophy on Sunday with victory against Exeter Chiefs.

Meanwhile, Bristol have given England’s Ellis Genge, Wales star Louis Rees-Zammit and Scotland’s Tom Jordan a week off.

Winger Gabriel Ibitoye, however, will make his first Prem start since the club’s opening round win against Tigers.

Leicester Tigers: Steward, Hamer-Webb, Wand, Bailey, Hassell-Collins, Searle, Whiteley; Smith, Blamire, Heyes, Liebenberg, Chessum, Moro, Watson, Cracknell.

Replacements: Theobald-Thomas, Van der Flier, Hurd, Thomas, Palmer, Van Poortvliet, O’Connor, Perese.

Bristol Bears: Heward, Ravouvou, Janse van Rensburg, Williams, Ibitoye, Worsley, Randall; Woolmore, Oghre, Kloska, Dun, Owen, Luatua, Harding, Mata.

Replacements: Gwilliam, Lahiff, Chawatama, Taylor, Grondona, Marmion, Moroni, Boshoff.