Hazell lifts the hosts (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Hazell lifts the hosts

England back-row man Andy Hazell has given Gloucester a big boost ahead of today's West Country Premiership clash with Bath after signing a new three-year contract with the Kingsholm club.

The 26 year-old openside has been in superb form this season earning his first England cap and starting the first game of the Six Nations Championship against Wales.

Hazell said: "This season has been a big step-up in terms of achievements with my first cap, and the new contract is a great way to keep that moving."

"I've grown up in the city and I want to take Gloucester to the top.''

Phil Vickery takes over the captaincy for today's 13,000 sell-out derby.

The 28 year-old leads from the front row alongside Welsh international hooker Mefin Davies and England Under 21 prop Nick Wood.

Henry Paul moves to fly-ha'f in place of the injured Duncan McRae and James Simpson-Daniel starts at outside centre.

Lock Steve Borthwick will captain Bath with club captain Jonathan Humphreys on the bench.

Flankers Andy Beattie (broken leg) and Michael Lipman (ankle ligament damage) join the long-term injury list as James Scaysbrook and Wales international Geraint Lewis come into the back row.

Olly Barkley returns to the backline, but with Brendon Daniel (back), Frikkie Welsh (thigh) and Alex Crockett (knee) all missing, scrum-half Andy Williams continues on the wing.

Gloucester: Goodridge, Garvey, Simpson-Daniel, Fanolua, Kiole, Paul, Gomarsall, Wood, Davies, Vickery (capt), Eustace, Brown, Forrester, Hazell, Balding

Subs: Curnier, Sigley, Cornwell, Buxton, Merriman, Page, Bailey

Bath: Perry, Williams, Higgins, Barkley, Maddock, Malone, Walshe, Stevens, Mears, Bell, Borthwick (capt), Grewcock, Lewis, Scaysbrook, Feaunati. Subs: Humphreys, Loader, Delve, Fidler, Wood, Cheeseman, Davis.