New signing Ollie Lawrence is set to make his debut for EPCR Challenge Cup side Bath Rugby against Gloucester Rugby in the Gallagher Premiership this Saturday.

Bath, who will play their opening EPCR Challenge Cup match at home to Glasgow Warriors on Saturday 10th December, have made six changes to the starting XV that lost to London Irish in a high-scoring 47-38 match.

Those changes include the introduction of Lawrence; the England international only joined the club at the start of the week and steps into the side at centre, alongside Cameron Redpath.

Nahum Merigan will make his first Premiership start for Bath, playing at No.8, while Tom Ellis also comes into the back row and makes his first start since an injury forced him out for eight months.

Other changes see lock Dave Attwood and Piers Francis and called in, the latter retaking the fly-half role.

Saturday’s United Rugby Championship (URC) schedule sees four EPCR Challenge Cup sides in action across three matches.

In an all-Welsh Pool B versus Pool A meeting, Scarlets welcome Cardiff Rugby, with the hosts still searching for a first win of the season.

They have made six changes from the team that lost 34-23 to Benetton Rugby, among them a positional change that sees the injured Johnny Williams replaced by captain Jonathan Davies, who moves in to take the vacant spot at centre.

Cardiff, who host CA Brive on December 10 in their first EPCR Challenge Cup fixture, will have an all-new front row for the match, with Rhys Carre, Kristian Dacey and Dmitri Arhip all stepping into the side as part of a substantial eight changes.

Pool A’s Glasgow Warriors will host South African side Emirates Lions – Sione Tuipulotu will captain the Scottish region for the first time as his side look to extend an unbeaten home run that began in October 2021.

Zebre Parma are also in Saturday action, welcoming another South African side in the DHL Stormers. They will have two debutants in their starting XV to face the current URC champions, with Damiano Mazza and Latu Latunipulu coming in as two of the Italians’ nine total changes.

Finally, Saturday’s TOP 14 action will also feature a number of EPCR Challenge Cup teams. Stade Français Paris welcome USAP while Section Paloise travel to face Racing 92.

Aviron Bayonnais have a difficult task up against the visiting 2022 Heineken Champions Cup winners Stade Rochelais, while last season’s EPCR Challenge Cup finalists RC Toulon face off against Brive.

EPCR Challenge Cup teams are also involved in domestic games on Sunday. In the Premiership, Pool B’s Wasps host Northampton Saints and Pool A’s Newcastle Falcons welcome Saracens.

An all-EPCR Challenge Cup Pool B clash takes place in the URC with Italy’s Benetton Rugby facing Welsh region Dragons RFC.