Bristol Bears

Bristol Bears

Ashton Gate Stadium (Capacity: 27,000)
Chairman	Chris Booy
Director of Rugby	Pat Lam
Captain(s)	Fitz Harding
Most caps	Darren Crompton (138)
Top scorer	Felipe Contepomi (573)
Most tries	Harry Thacker (35)
League(s)	Premiership Rugby
2022–23	9th
1st kit 2nd kit
Official website
www.bristolbearsrugby.com
Current season

Bristol Bears (officially Bristol Rugby Club or Bristol Rugby) are a professional rugby union club based in Bristol, England. They play in Premiership Rugby, England's top division of rugby.

The club was founded as Bristol Football Club in 1888; between 1921 and 2014, home matches were played at the

In 2018, the club rebranded as Bristol Bears; between 2001 and 2005 the club were known as Bristol Shoguns due to a sponsorship deal with Mitsubishi.^[1]

Bristol won the

History

Formation and early history

Bristol Football Club was formed in 1888 when the Carlton club merged with rival club

The first match was a heavy away defeat to Cardiff and although the first season was relatively successful the second was not with only three games won. The club went from strength to strength over the next few years under the captaincy of W. Tommy Thomson. It turned the corner and in 1891–92, now wearing the more familiar navy and white hooped shirts, the Bristol team won 20 games out of 24.

Over the ensuing seasons the fixture list went from strength to strength, consisting of most of the top English and Welsh sides. In 1900 J. W. Jarman became Bristol's first

The fiftieth anniversary was celebrated in 1938 but the next few years saw a fall in performances and the final inter-war season was a poor one. During World War II a Bristol Supporters team kept rugby union going in the city. Thus Bristol had readily available players when peacetime rugby union resumed in 1945.

1950s

The playing record in the early fifties was mixed, but there was a huge improvement under the captaincy of first Bert MacDonald, and then Dick Hawkes. Records were broken in 1956–57 and even better was to follow in what has been called 'The Blake Era'.

Fly half John Blake became captain in 1957 and under his leadership the club developed an entertaining running style of rugby involving backs and forwards, which was years ahead of its time. The Bristol club set and broke new records for wins in a season and points scored and goal kicking forward Gordon Cripps rewrote the individual points scoring records.

1960s–1980s

The 75th anniversary was celebrated in 1962–63 and floodlights were installed in the following season. Club form peaked in 1965–66 under Derek Neate's captaincy when 39 games were won, and again in 1971–72 under Tony Nicholls. This was the club's best ever season with a thousand points being scored for the first time^[3] and the team being crowned unofficial English and Anglo-Welsh champions.

Under Mike Rafter's captaincy, the club won the John Player Cup in 1983, defeating Leicester 28–22. During this period Alan Morley established a world record of 479 tries in senior rugby. The centenary season with Nigel Pomphrey as captain was celebrated in style with a game against the Barbarians and a narrow defeat in the cup final.^{[citation needed]}

1990s

In 1996, Bristol Rovers moved into the Memorial Stadium as tenants of Bristol Rugby, and later took over ownership of the stadium through the Memorial Stadium Company.^[3]

1998–99 (Premiership Two)
Relegation to

The

In the 2012–13 season Bristol missed out on the play-off finals, finishing fifth in the championship. At the end of the 2012–13 season it was announced that former Ospreys head coach Sean Holley would join Bristol Rugby as the first team coach.[15] Andy Robinson joined Bristol Rugby as director of rugby in March 2013,^[16] at first working with head coach Liam Middleton but following a poor run of results Middleton was sacked by the club following an internal review later in March 2013.^[17]

The 2013–14 season brought a return to form with Bristol Rugby finishing top of the championship table. However, Bristol failed to secure promotion to the premiership, losing both legs of the play-off finals to London Welsh. In the close season a number of players were signed to the club in expectation of promotion for the 2014–15 season, including Samoan Internationals

Much of the squad from the previous season remained with Andy Robinson bolstering his options for the new campaign by signing ex-England winger Tom Varndell. On 4 February it was announced that New Zealander Mark Bakewell would replace Borthwick. The new year saw the announcement that Matthew Morgan to further his international chances was to be leaving the club at the end of the season and joining Danny Wilson at Cardiff Blues. However, Bristol were able to clinch promotion to Aviva Premiership with a 60–47 aggregate win over Doncaster.

February 2016 saw the signing of Wales International scrum half Rhodri Williams from Scarlets for the 2016–17 season. Tusi Pisi signed for the club from Japan's Sunwolves Super Rugby franchise in March. Head coach Sean Holley resigned from his position at the club.^[20] Former Welsh internationals Jonathan Thomas appointed as first team defence coach and Dwayne Peel as backs and skills coach. Further signings include USA international centre Thretton Palamo from Saracens and Tongan international prop Soane Tongaʻuiha from French side Oyonnax.

November 2016 saw the sacking of Director of Rugby Andy Robinson due to poor results and 'lost confidence' from the board. Club stalwart and top points scorer Mark Tainton was appointed interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Further signings announced by club included Siale Piutau from Yamaha Jubio, Irish international lock forward Dan Tuohy, All Black international scrum half Alby Mathewson and Shane Geraghty from London Irish.

On New Year's Day, 2017, Varndell equalled Mark Cueto's premiership tries record of 90 tries by scoring against Sale Sharks. This followed a hat-trick in the previous week against Worcester Warriors. On 10 February Varndell became the leading try scorer in the Aviva Premiership when he scored against Harlequins at Ashton Gate.

Ultimately, Bristol finished bottom of the Premiership in their returning year, having been relegated with 2 weeks to go after a 21–36 loss against Wasps at Ashton Gate. They finished 12th with only 3 wins and 20 accumulated points, 13 behind 11th placed Worcester Warriors. Their three victories involved beating Worcester 28–20 at Ashton Gate, beating Sale 23–24 at the

On 5 December 2016, it was announced that Pat Lam would become the new head coach for Bristol Rugby after leaving the Irish region Connacht ahead of the 2017–18 season.^[21] Notable signings ahead of the new season were Australian International Luke Morahan from Western Force and All Black Steven Luatua from Blues.

Bristol secured promotion in the

On 1 June 2018, Bristol Rugby was re-branded as the Bristol Bears following their return to the Premiership.[24]

The club announced a raft of new signings including the

On 29 November, it was confirmed that the Bears would be signing Semi Radradra ahead of the 2020/21 season, joining on a 3-year deal from Bordeaux Bègles, creating one of the most dangerous back three in Rugby Union, alongside Charles Piutau and Luke Morahan.

2019–Present: European success

Bristol signed England internationals

In the Challenge Cup, Bristol finished top of their group and were given a home quarter final against Welsh side

• European Challenge Cup
  • Champions: (1) 2019–20
• RFU Championship
  • Champions: (4) 1998–99, 2004–05, 2015–16, 2017–18
• Anglo–Welsh Cup
  • Champions: (1) 1982–83
  • Runners–Up: (3)
    1972–73, 1983–84, 1987–88
• British and Irish Cup
  • Champions: (1) 2010–11
• EDF Energy Trophy
  • Champions: (1) 2003–04
• Anglo-Welsh Merit Table Winners
  • Champions: (3) 1965–66, 1971–72, 1973–74
• RFU South West Merit Table Winners
  • Champions: (3) 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82

Current squad

The Bristol Bears squad for the 2023–24 season is:^{[38][39][a][b]}

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union Will Capon Hooker England Fred Davies Hooker England Gabriel Oghre Hooker England Harry Thacker Hooker England Jono Benz-Salomon Prop Spain Toti Benz-Salomon Prop Spain Ellis Genge Prop England Sam Grahamslaw [a] Prop Scotland George Kloska Prop England Max Lahiff Prop England Steven Longwell [b] Prop Scotland Kyle Sinckler Prop England Yann Thomas Prop England Jay Tyack Prop England Jake Woolmore Prop England Joe Batley Lock England Josh Caulfield Lock England James Dun Lock England Ed Holmes Lock England Joe Owen Lock England Chris Vui Lock Samoa Magnus Bradbury Back row Scotland Santiago Grondona Back row Argentina Benjamín Grondona Back row Argentina Fitz Harding Back row England Jake Heenan Back row Australia Steven Luatua Back row Samoa Dan Thomas Back row Wales

Player Position Union Oscar Lennon Scrum-half Wales Kieran Marmion Scrum-half Ireland Harry Randall Scrum-half England Sam Wolstenholme Scrum-half England AJ MacGinty Fly-half United States Callum Sheedy Fly-half Wales James Williams Fly-half England Harry Ascherl Centre England Jack Bates Centre England Benhard Janse van Rensburg Centre South Africa Piers O'Conor Centre England Kalaveti Ravouvou Centre Fiji Virimi Vakatawa Centre France Deago Bailey Wing England Gabriel Ibitoye Wing England Richard Lane Wing England Ratu Naulago Wing Fiji Noah Heward Fullback England Max Malins Fullback England

Academy squad

The Bristol Bears Academy squad is:^[42]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union Andrew Turner Prop England Tom Sims Prop England Louie Trevett Prop England Jimmy Halliwell Prop England Charlie Rice Lock England George Taylor Lock England Kenzie Jenkins Lock Wales Paddy Pearce Back row England Aaron Tull Back row England Ed Harvey Back row England Macenzzie Duncan Back row England Tom Gardner Back row England Ollie Thraves Back row England

Player Position Union Sam Worsley Fly-half England Dylan Power Centre England Isaac Campbell-Wu Centre England Toby Baker Centre England Joe Jenkins Centre Wales Harry Rowson Wing England Tom Ormsby Wing England Matty Jones Wing England Sami Hamid Fullback England

Club staff

Management

• Owner –
  Stephen Lansdown^[43]
• Chairman – Chris Booy[44]
• Chief Operating Officer – Tom Tainton^[45]

First team coaching

• Director of rugby – Pat Lam
• Forwards Coach – Mark Irish
• Senior Backs & Skills Coach – Dave Walder
• Defence Coach - Jordan Crane
• Assistant Forwards Coach - Chris Morgan
• Assistant Backs & Skills Coach – Sean Marsden
• Kicking Coach - Dave Alred
• Mental Skills Coach - Tom Bates
• Head of Athletic Performance – Kevin Geary

Academy

• Senior academy manager – Gethin Watts
• Junior academy manager – Gary Townsend
• Academy transition coach – Danny Grewcock
• Academy transition coach – Glen Townson
• Senior Academy Coach - Brad Barnes
• Junior Academy Coach - Keith Leaker

Bristol Bears Women

• Head coach - Dave Ward
• Assistant coach - Tom Luke

Head coaches/directors of rugby

Notable and former players

Lions tourists

The following Bristol players have been selected for the Lions tours while at the club:

• Wallace Jarman (1899)
• Percy Down (1908)
• Maurice Edward Neale (1910 Tour to South Africa)
• Jack Spoors (1910 Tour to South Africa)
• Tom Richards (1910 Tour to South Africa
  )
• John Pullin (1968 & 1971)
• Alan Morley (1974)
• Mark Regan (1997 & 2001)
• Simon Shaw (1997)
• Kyle Sinckler (2021)

Rugby World Cup

The following are players which have represented their countries at the Rugby World Cup whilst playing for Bristol:

Tournament	Players selected	England players	Other national team players
1987	2	Richard Harding, Jonathan Webb
1991	0
1995	1	Kyran Bracken
1999	8	Garath Archer, Kyran Bracken, David Rees	Jamie Mayer , Pablo Lemoine , Al Charron (vc) , Agustín Pichot, Eduardo Simone
2003	1		Ross Beattie
2007	5	Mark Regan, Shaun Perry	Alfie To'oala, David Lemi , Marko Stanojevic
2011	1		William Helu
2015	4		Matthew Morgan , Anthony Perenise, Jack Lam , Tommaso Benvenuti
2019	5		James Lay, Jordan Lay, Chris Vui, Alapati Leiua , Siale Piutau (c)
2023	7	Ellis Genge (vc), Kyle Sinckler, Max Malins	Kalaveti Ravouvou , Santiago Grondona , Chris Vui (c), Steve Luatua

Archives

Records relating to Bristol Rugby Club are held at Bristol Archives (Ref. 41582) (online catalogue) and (Ref. 44624) (online catalogue).

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bristol Bears.

• Official website
• Bristol Rugby Independent Supporters' Trust Archived 3 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine
• Independent Bristol Rugby Online
• Bristol Rugby Web Site Directory
• Premiership Rugby Official Website