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Bristol bring in two Irish players, including a hooker whose 2017 signing by Saracens caused ructions with the IRFU
Gallagher Premiership leaders Bristol have bolstered their squad, boss Pat Lam using his Irish connections to bring in hooker Tadgh McElroy and scrum-half Stephen Kerins with immediate effect. Half-back Kerins has arrived on a month’s loan from Connacht, the club that Lam guided to PRO12 glory in 2016. He has made ten league and European appearances for the team now coached by Andy Friend, his last run coming off the bench last October versus Cardiff.
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Lam’s more intriguing short-term Bristol recruit is McElroy, who has arrived on a four-week trial. A former Ireland U20s player, he created headlines when his decision to join Saracens rather than the Connacht academy resulted in Irish age-grade officials excluding him from the 2017 U20s World Cup that he was set to feature at in Georgia.
Lam said: “We’re light at hooker and scrum-half, so it’s good to bring these two guys in to bolster our depth over a busy period for the club. They have arrived at the Bears high performance centre and will integrate with the squad with immediate effect.”
The Bristol boss has a good recent track record in faring well with recruits from Ireland. His team to face Wasps on Friday night includes hooker Bryan Byrne, a player who struggled to become a starter at Leinster, while one-time Ireland cap Niyi Adeolokun was released by Connacht last year. Both initially came to Bristol on short-term deals and have since become full-timers at the English club.
New recruit McElroy had made the move back to Ireland after he exited Saracens in 2019 and his form for club side Clontarf had been promising until the All-Ireland League season was shut down in March 2020 and it hasn’t started back up since then.
3 years ago then Irish U20s No.2 @tadghmcelroy controversially signed for Saracens and was replaced by Ronan Kelleher. Injury and bad luck have left him back on Irish soil and without a pro club.
– @heagneyl finds out he doesn't hold grudges ?? #IREvSCOhttps://t.co/CTxIoAW1hD
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 1, 2020
Speaking to RugbyPass 13 months ago about how his career had panned out, McElroy said of his controversial switch to Saracens: “I wouldn’t change it because at the time for me it was the best decision for Tadgh McElroy to grow up, mature and become a better player. I matured as a player and as a person on and off the field and the best thing about it was I met some amazing people, met some boys I will be friends for life with.
“I lived with Joel Kpoku for two years, great guy. They all were. Saracens are known for everyone being close together and it’s just a group of good people. There were no individuals I’d bad vibes with. It was different. I had to live away from home, cook for myself, but you adapt quickly. I liked it because it was a different challenge outside the field and I knew I’d to mature quick. I’d be cooking, cleaning for myself, doing my bills, little things like that.”
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The flying Fijian – a British Army serviceman – has been on fire in recent weeks, scoring five tries in three games for Premiership leaders Bristol #PremRugby #BRIvWAShttps://t.co/x1ajrJ4pwJ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 11, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments