For the first time this Saturday, Sami and Zak Hamid will play together in a senior rugby match as they both are selected in the squad to face Luctonians on the penultimate weekend of the season. Sami Hamid will follow in his dad , and current chairman, Aftab’s footsteps when he pulls on the senior jersey this afternoon flor the second time after making his debut last week against Redruth. The difference for the Bristol Bears academy winger; his brother Zak will be alongside him this weekend when he does it. Aftab, who played for Clifton 1st XV over many years was over the moon.

“It’s the first time they will play together, rather than beating each other up in the garden over the years as they grew up, so to do it in the 1st XV shirt is special this weekend.”

Sami and Zak are joined by Isaac Cambpell-Wu, another former Clifton junior on the cusp of signing for the Bears who also made his senior debut last week against Redruth. He joins a wealth of former colts this weekend in Blake Boyland, Paddy Pearce, George Davey and Shay Sainsbury making the step up to senior rugby for the club they have played for as juniors and colts.

“It’s great to see. Once again this week, we have a huge sway of home grown boys. Some of them have gone on the Bears pathway and some of them are on that journey currently, but they have come through the club and are an excellent example of what our club is all about.”
Aftab Hamid.

Sainsbury, Campbell-Wu and Sami Hamid all start on the bench alongside stalwart Paul Fincken and Freddie Myatt whilst Paddy Pearce starts at open side flanker alongside another Bear in Joe Owen and in form Brad Talbot, who is facing off against his old club. The second row sees Henry Harper join Max Murphy and another Clifton Junior, George Davey makes his first senior start at hooker with Ricky Cano and Sammy Turner either side of him.

Boyland starts at 9 with Luke Cozens, Danny Wells joins Will Owen in the centre, who captains the side and the back 3 has Zak Ward returning at 15, with Zak Hamid and Matty Ward on the wings. Matt Salter is keen to ensure that after going in a live session against Dings on Tuesday at Shaftesbury Park, his side maintain the intensity they have had all week.

“Obviously they gave us a proper going over where we hosted them here - we couldn’t get anything going and they were relentless in defence, so we know the challenge. We are still intent on finsishing 2nd this season so we have picked a big squad to look to impose our physicality this weeeknd; it is going to be tough but we are ready for the challenge .
Matt Salter

1. Ricky Canó 2. George Davey 3. Sammy Turner 4. Henry Harper 5. Max Murphy 6. Joe Owen 7. Paddy Pearce 8. Brad Talbot 9. Blake Boyland 10. Luke Cozens 11. Matty Ward 12. Danny Wells 13. Will Owen (c) 14. Zak Hamid 15. Zak Ward

Replacements: 16. Shay Sainsbury 17. Paul Fincken 18. Freddie Myatt 19. Sami Hamid 20. Isaac Campbell-Wu