Jack van Poortvliet: Leicester and England scrum-half set for first appearance in eight months
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Jack van Poortvliet has earned 14 England caps
England scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet is set to return from an eight-month injury lay-off having been named on Leicester's bench for Friday's Premiership game against Gloucester.
The 22-year-old was ruled out of last year's World Cup in France with an ankle injury.
It will be Van Poortvliet's first match under Tigers boss Dan McKellar.
"We're all really pleased for Jack to see him back fit, healthy and wearing a Tigers jersey," McKellar said.
Norwich-born Van Poortvliet, who came through the Tigers academy, last played in August 2023 when he suffered the injury against Wales in a World Cup warm-up.
He previously spoke of being "devastated" to miss the tournament, where England went on to earn a third-placed finish.
The playmaker's return to fitness coincides with the resumption of Premiership action after a two-month hiatus to accommodate the Six Nations.
England internationals Ollie Chessum, Dan Cole and Freddie Steward, as well as Wales' Tommy Reffell are included in the Tigers side for the rematch against Gloucester, having lost the Premiership Rugby Cup final against the Cherry and Whites a week earlier.
Captain Julian Montoya, Jasper Wiese and Solomone Kata also come into the team, after being ineligible for the trophy showdown.
Leicester Tigers side to face Gloucester: Steward; Bassett, Kelly, Kata, Hassell-Collins; Pollard, Youngs; Cronin, Montoya, Cole; Wells, Chessum, Liebenberg, Reffell, Wiese.
Replacements: Theobald-Thomas, Whitcombe, Heyes, Hatherell, Cracknell, Van Poortvliet, Shillcock, Cokanasiga.
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