The Welshman comes in alongside scrum-half Chris Cook, who makes his second start of the season. The wings remain unchanged from last weekend’s match in Matt Banahan and Semesa Rokoduguni, as does the centre combination of Kyle Eastmond and Ollie Devoto. At 15, Tom Homer will play against his former club for the first time.

Front row trio Nick Auterac, Rob Webber and Henry Thomas start together for the first time since last December’s clinical 16-39 victory against Gloucester at Kingsholm. Captain Stuart Hooper and Dom Day are named in the second row, with Matt Garvey, Alafoti Faosiliva and Leroy Houston forming a powerful ball-carrying back row.

On the bench, loosehead prop Nathan Catt is in line to make an eagerly-awaited return from injury, whilst promising Academy forwards Tom Ellis and Max Northcote-Green are also among the replacements.

Bath Rugby team to face London Irish

15 Tom Homer

14 Semesa Rokoduguni

13 Ollie Devoto

12 Kyle Eastmond

11 Matt Banahan

10 Rhys Priestland

9 Chris Cook

1 Nick Auterac

2 Rob Webber

3 Henry Thomas

4 Stuart Hooper (c)

5 Dom Day

6 Matt Garvey

7 Alafoti Faosiliva

8 Leroy Houston

Replacements

16 Tom Dunn

17 Nathan Catt

18 Max Lahiff

19 Tom Ellis

20 Max Northcote-Green

21 Niko Matawalu

22 George Ford

23 Jeff Williams

Priestland to make first start for Bath Rugby

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