The Premiership returns with a potential thriller as two of the league’s most entertaining teams clash at the Twickenham Stoop.
Harlequins welcome high-flying Bristol Bears to their south-west London home, with the visitors aiming for top spot in a fiercely competitive campaign. Pat Lam’s side continued to embrace their freestyle identity and enjoyed an encouraging start to the season, with victory over champions Northampton ahead of November international action putting them in a good position.
The hosts, meanwhile, sit six points behind their opponents and within striking distance of the top four. Although there is no Marcus Smith tonight as he rests after a busy Autumn Nations Series with England, Alex Dombrandt returns to captain the team. Most importantly, the club will bid farewell to a legend in Joe Marler, who has brought forward his retirement from rugby from the end of the season to tonight and starts on the loose for the final time.
Follow all the latest news from The Stoop on our live blog below:
Harlequins v Bristol
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Harlequins welcome Bristol to the Twickenham Stoop, with kick-off at 7:45 p.m. GMT
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The Premiership returns after international action with a clash between two freewheeling teams | Live on TNT Sports
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Harlequins and England prop Joe Marler set to play final match before retirement
What next for England after a frustrating autumn? Five questions Steve Borthwick needs to answer before the Six Nations
5:30 p.m. , Harry Latham-Coyle
A record of just five wins from 12 games in 2024 reflects a year of missed opportunities for England. From Lyon in the spring to Auckland in the summer to three defeats in November, Steve Borthwick’s side have repeatedly put themselves in winning position this year and, at the crucial moment, faltered or faltered.
After a third place at last year’s World Cup, the team has undergone a relatively significant regeneration. Nine new caps made their international debuts, while other relatively inexperienced figures like Tommy Freeman and George Furbank gained new prominence within the organization.
Although their final quarter collapses undermined much of the progress made, Borthwick is confident they have the elements in place to build a winning team. The head coach has regularly spoken about the youthful age profile of his team while maintaining a management group in whom he has full confidence. He is confident the upheaval caused by the shock departures of defense coach Felix Jones and strength and conditioning guru Aled Walters will not happen. be repeated.
But the start of the Six Nations is very demanding: a trip to Ireland on the opening weekend is followed by a first home clash against France since a record defeat at Twickenham in 2023. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has set an ambitious demand of four wins from five in the spring campaign, something England have not achieved since the 2020 edition.
Here are five key questions Borthwick must address to set England up for success.
What next for England after a frustrating autumn? Five key questions to answer
Harlequins v Bristol LIVE
11:20 a.m. , Harry Latham-Coyle
Good evening and welcome to The IndependentLive coverage of an intriguing clash between Harlequins and Bristol Bears as the Premiership returns after a busy November in international action. The visitors are aiming for top spot before heading to the Twickenham Stoop, but will face a home side desperate to give outgoing prop Joe Marler a special farewell.
Kick-off is at 7:45 p.m. GMT.