Bristol Bears host Leicester Tigers at Ashton Gate on Friday night in Round Five of the 2026/27 Gallagher PREM

Bristol Bears will wear letters on the back of their shirts tonight for the first time in a league game since 1998 when RFU rules stated clubs had to adopt numbers.

With Bristol celebrating their 'Legends Night' at Ashton Gate this evening as part of the launch of the club's Hall of Fame, the Bears have been given special permission by PREM Rugby to bring back their famous lettering system on their shirts against Leicester Tigers in Round Five of the Gallagher PREM for one night only.

The nod to the retro, is part of PREM’s 30th anniversary season celebrations.

For anyone watching the game at home a bit confused, here is how the Bears' letting system works in relation to the modern game's number system.

• A - 15 - Tom Jordan
• B - 14 - Louis Rees-Zammit
• C. - 13 - Matias Moroni
• D - 12 - James Williams
• E. - 11 - Gabriel Ibitoye
• F - 10 - AJ MacGinty
• G - 9- Harry Randall
• H - 1 - Ellis Genge
• I - 2 - Gabriel Oghre
• J - 3 - George Kloska
• K - 4 - Pedro Rubiolo
• L. - 5 - Joe Batley
• M - 6 - Steven Luatua
• O - 7 -Fitz Harding (c)
• N - 8 - Luka Ivanishvili

Replacements:

• P - 16 - Tomas Gwilliam
• Q - 17 - Jake Woolmore
• R - 18 - Lovejoy Chawatama
• S - 19 - Josh Caulfield
• T - 20 - Joe Owen
• U - 21 - Kieran Marmion
• V - 22 - Jack Bates
• W - 23 - Ben Grondona

Supporters are encouraged to wear their favourite retro Bristol shirts to help bring the club’s rich heritage to life, with fans able to personalise their own 2026/27 Bears shirts with the special letter printing at the club store.

The first 15 players inducted into the Bristol Bears Hall of Fame are:

• William "Tommy" Thomson (#001) – Forward and goal-kicker who captained and kept the club alive during its foundational early seasons.
• Wallace Jarman (#002) – Outstanding forward and five-season captain who became Bristol's first England international in 1900.
• Len Corbett (#003) – Legendary center/wing and England captain renowned for his running and kicking abilities.
• Sam Tucker (#004) – Hooker and prop who captained England, Gloucestershire, and Bristol during the inter-war period.
• John Blake (#005) – Influential fly-half and club captain known for his attacking style and tactical leadership.
• Dave Watt (#006) – Towering lock and prominent forward across the 1960s and 1970s.
• John Pullin (#007) – Renowned hooker who captained England and starred for the British & Irish Lions.
• Dave Rollitt (#008) – Dynamic back-row forward who captained Bristol and represented England.
• Alan Morley (#009) – Prolific winger and world-record try scorer in first-class rugby, representing Bristol and England.
• Alan Pearn (#010) – England scrum-half and club stalwart who captained Bristol during the 1970s.
• Mike Rafter (#011) – Revered openside flanker who captained Bristol to their famous 1983 John Player Cup triumph.
• Nigel Pomphrey (#012) – Dedicated forward and long-serving stalwart who also helped rescue the club financially in 2003.
• Ralph Knibbs (#013) – Powerful center who scored over 100 tries across more than 400 appearances for the club.
• Matt Salter (#014) – Tough, talismanic back-row forward who captained the side during the Premiership era.
• David Lemi (#015) – Electric Samoan international winger and fan-favourite prolific try-scorer of the modern era.