---
title: "Bristol Bears vs Leicester Tigers Prem preview: Lineups and predictions"
canonical: "https://readrugbyunion.com/2026/10/30/bristol-bears-leicester-tigers-2026/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Jonny Black"
section: "Match Previews"
published: "2026-10-30T08:49:18Z"
modified: "2026-10-30T08:49:18Z"
---

# Bristol Bears vs Leicester Tigers Prem preview: Lineups and predictions

| Home team | Bristol Bears |
| --- | --- |
| Away team | Leicester Tigers |
| Venue | Ashton Gate |
| Competition | Prem |
| Kick-off time | 7:45 pm (UK) |
| Watch Live in the UK | TNT Sports/HBO Max |

Bristol Bears vs Leicester Tigers Prem preview as the sides meet in round five of the competition at Ashton Gate. Both teams have the same record after four games with three wins and one loss. Leicester are currently joint-top of the table on 16 points, while Bristol sit on 14 points, having picked up fewer bonus points.

Read more match previews [here](https://readrugbyunion.com/matchpreviews/)

## Bristol Bears vs Leicester Tigers confirmed lineups

- **Bristol Bears** · **Leicester Tigers**
- **Forwards**
- Genge · **1** · Van Der Flier
- Oghre · **2** · Blamire
- Kloska · **3** · Heyes
- Rubiolo · **4** · Henderson
- Batley · **5** · Chessum
- Luatua · **6** · Wainwright
- Harding · **7** · Carnduff
- Ivanishvili · **8** · Cracknell
- **Backs**
- Randall · **9** · Whiteley
- MacGinty · **10** · Searle
- Ibitoye · **11** · Hassell-Collins
- Williams · **12** · Bailey
- Moroni · **13** · Kata
- Rees-Zammit · **14** · Radwan
- Jordan · **15** · Steward
- **Replacements**
- Gwilliam · **16** · Moli
- Woolmore · **17** · M Vunipola
- Chawatama · **18** · Hurd
- Caulfield · **19** · Stooke
- Owen · **20** · Moro
- Marmion · **21** · Van Poortvliet
- Bates · **22** · Wand
- Grondona · **23** · Hamer-Webb

## Recent Form:

**Bristol Bears (Home team):**

| **Result** | **Date** | **Competition** | **Opponent** | **Score** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Won | 24th October 2026 | Prem | Exeter Chiefs | 20-7 |
| Loss | 17th October 2026 | Champions Cup | Stormers | 49-12 |
| Loss | 10th October 2026 | Prem | Saracens | 30-7 |
| Won | 3rd October 2026 | Prem | Northampton Saints | 41-26 |
| Won | 26th September 2026 | Prem | Sale Sharks | 24-34 |

Bristol Bears returned from a disappointing European defeat against the Stormers with a great home win against the Exeter Chiefs. James Williams kicked 10 of the 20 points in difficult conditions to help Bristol win 20-7. The number 12 kicked five points in each half, converting one try and kicking a penalty. Williams perfect record in difficult conditions allowed Bristol to control the scoreboard. They led 10-0 at halftime; Greg Fisilau got one back shortly after the break and, with a narrow lead for the remainder of the game, Bristol scored 10 points in the final three minutes to win the match.

**Leicester Tigers (Away team):**

| **Result** | **Date** | **Competition** | **Opponent** | **Score** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Won | 24th October 2026 | Prem | Northampton Saints | 28-7 |
| Loss | 18th October 2026 | Champions Cup | Pau | 41-17 |
| Won | 9th October 2026 | Prem | Gloucester | 38-31 |
| Won | 3rd October 2026 | Prem | Newcastle Red Bulls | 19-24 |
| Loss | 27th Septemeber 2026 | Prem | Saracens | 38-40 |

Leicester Tigers have won three Prem games in a row, despite losing heavily in Europe to French side Pau. In the last round of the Prem, they picked up a huge home victory against the reigning Champions, Northampton Saints, in a massive 28-7 win. Leicester were 7-3 behind at the break but an altercation between the Leicester and Northampton teams, mostly Ollie Chessum and Henry Pollock as they went down the tunnel helped inspire Leicester to a big second half. They would score two tries within the first 12 minutes of the second half to go 13-7 ahead. Two further tries and a Billy Searle penalty would give Leicester the victory by 21 points.

## Bristol Bears vs Leicester Tigers head-to-head record (last five matches):

| Date | Competition | Winner | Score |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 22nd March 2026 | Prem | Leicester Tigers | 33-19 |
| 28th September 2025 | Prem | Bristol Bears | 42-24 |
| 20th April 2025 | Prem | Leicester Tigers | 19-36 |
| 21st December 2024 | Prem | Bristol Bears | 24-54 |
| 27th April 2024 | Prem | Bristol Bears | 19-21 |

Bristol Beats have won four of the last six meetings against Leicester Tigers with the winning side scoring at least 30 points in each of the last four games.

## Predictions

- Leicester Tigers to win by less than 10 points.
- 7+ tries in the match.