Harlequins duo injured but Bath's Stuart returns

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England and British and Irish Lions prop Will Stuart has not played since December last year [Getty Images]

The first round of the Prem returns this weekend with all 10 teams starting with a clean slate as the new season begins.

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This is the first chance for fans to see new signings in their club colours and whether the summer break and pre-season training block has created a fresh impetus in their teams.

You can listen to coverage of all of the matches on BBC DAB and FM local radio, via BBC Sounds or the BBC Sport website and app.

Harlequins v Bath (Friday, 19:45 BST)

Harlequins are without new signing George Furbank for their Prem opener after the full-back went off injured with his first carry of their pre-season friendly against Edinburgh last week, while Marcus Smith also misses out with a hand injury picked up in the same match.

It means Tyrone Green starts at 15 with Connor Slevin making his Prem debut at fly-half for the hosts.

Prop Will Stuart makes his first start for Bath in more than nine months after recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon that has kept him on the sidelines since last December.

New signing Dan du Preez also slots straight in to the back row at number eight, while Tom Carr-Smith starts at scrum-half with Ben Spencer set to miss the first few Prem rounds following shoulder surgery.

Harlequins: Green; Anderson, Beard, Bradley, Murley (c); Slevin, Porter; Hobson, Walker, Delgado, Dun, Browne, Kenningham, Evans, Cunningham-South.

Replacements: Riley, Wenger, Johnson-Holmes, Treadwell, Petti, Friday, Bellamy, Isgro.

Bath: Carreras; Cokanasiga, Lawrence, Ojomoh, De Glanville; Russell, Carr-Smith; Obano, Frost, Stuart; Hill, Ewels (c), Bayliss, Underhill, Du Preez.

Replacements: Tuipulotu, Kirk, Griffin, Richards, Pepper, Van der Linde, Redpath, Reid.

Northampton v Newcastle (Friday, 19:45 BST)

Chris Harris will play his first Prem game for Newcastle since leaving the club in 2019 [Getty Images]

Henry Pollock is set to make his 50th appearance for Northampton having signed a new contract with the club earlier this week.

The 21-year-old starts alongside Josh Kemeny and Callum Chick, with a second row of Alex Coles and Ed Prowse ahead of them in the pack.

Phil Dowson has named an unchanged front row from Saints' 93-10 friendly victory over Georgian side Black Lion last week.

Newcastle name seven of their summer arrivals in the starting XV, including former Saints players Sam Graham and Elliot Millar Mills.

Chris Harris starts at inside centre having re-joined Newcastle from Bath, with former Ulster man Werner Kok on the left wing.

Maori All Black Pouri Rakete-Stones makes his Prem debut at loose-head prop, while Cam Jordan and Max Hicks also make their debuts.

Northampton: Pater; Freeman, Hutchinson, Dingwall (c), Hendy; F. Smith, McParland; Iyogun, Langdon, Kundiona; Coles, Prowse, Kemeny, Pollock, Chick.

Replacements: R. Smith, Fischetti, Neculai, Lockett, Taylor, Mitchell, Belleau, Sleightholme.

Newcastle: H Obatoyinbo; Wade, Hearle, Harris, Kok; Connon, Elliott; Rakete-Stones, McGuigan, Millar Mills; Usher, Jordan, Hicks, Christie (c), Graham.

Replacements: Fletcher, West, Harper, Molina, Leatherbarrow, Benitez Cruz, Henry, Sotutu.

Exeter v Gloucester (Saturday, 15:05 BST)

Team news to come.

Sale v Bristol (Saturday, 17:30 BST)

Team news to come.

Leicester v Saracens (Sunday, 15:00 BST)

Team news to come.

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