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Bristol confirm 20 players are leaving and announce 2020/21 squad

By Liam Heagney
(Photo by Bob Bradford/CameraSport via Getty Images)

Bristol boss Pat Lam has announced that 20 players will leave Ashton Gate at the end of June. Jordan Crane, Will Hurrell, Aly Muldowney and Tom Lindsay are all retiring from the professional game. Winger Ryan Edwards departs after eight years with the Bears, with James Lay, Jordan Lay and Adrian Choat returning to New Zealand.

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Ian Madigan is set to join Ulster, where he will face Ospreys-bound Mat Protheroe and Nicky Thomas in the Guinness PRO14. Joe Batley has signed with Worcester, while Nic Stirzaker, Lewis Thiede, Shaun Malton, Luke Daniels, Sam Graham, Ollie Dawe, Luke Hamilton and Bryan Byrne also depart.

Director of rugby Pat Lam is set to welcome seven new signings for next season, including England prop Kyle Sinckler. Semi Radradra, Chris Cook and Mitch Eadie are also joining, with Ben Earl and Max Malins due to arrive on loan from Saracens. Fiji’s Siva Naulago is set to arrive in the autumn.

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RugbyPass brings you The Bear Pit, the behind the scenes documentary on Pat Lam’s Bristol Bears

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RugbyPass brings you The Bear Pit, the behind the scenes documentary on Pat Lam’s Bristol Bears

Lam told the club’s website: “We had a very emotional online team farewell to honour all our leavers last Friday, but I would like to publicly thank all our departing players for contributing to our journey during their time at Bristol Bears.

“Whether foundation Bears or with us from last season, all these men have committed themselves to the club and our vision on and off the field – we are extremely grateful for that.

“I believe all those that are moving on leave the programme as better players and better people through the time and commitment they put into their own growth, as well as to the team and the development of this club. They have all played their part and we wish them the very best for the future.

“Although the pandemic means we had to recognise our leavers online compared to what we would do in a normal season, everybody will be welcomed back to celebrate the part they played for Bristol Bears at the conclusion of the 2019/20 season.”

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BRISTOL BEARS 2020/21 SQUAD (*denotes integrated academy)

Tighthead: John Afoa, Jake Armstrong, Kyle Sinckler;

Loosehead prop: Max Lahiff, Yann Thomas, Jake Woolmore, Andrew Turner*;

Hooker: Will Capon, Harry Thacker, George Kloska*;

Second row: Dave Attwood, John Hawkins, Ed Holmes, Joe Joyce, Chris Vui, Ben Bamber*, Alex Groves*;

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Back row: James Dun, Mitch Eadie, Ben Earl, Jake Heenan, Nathan Hughes, Steven Luatua, Dan Thomas, Fitz Harding*.

Scrum-half: Chris Cook, Harry Randall, Andy Uren, Blake Boyland*;

Fly-half: Tiff Eden, Callum Sheedy, Ioan Lloyd*, Tom Wilstead*

Centre: Sam Bedlow, Piers O’Conor, Siale Piutau, Charlie Powell, Semi Radradra, Harry Ascherl*, Jack Bates*;

Back three: Toby Fricker, Alapati Leiua, Max Malins, Luke Morahan, Siva Naulago, Charles Piutau, Henry Purdy, Deago Bailey*, Freddie Owsley*

PLAYERS LEAVING

Bryan Byrne, Joe Batley Adrian Choat, Jordan Crane (retiring), Luke Daniels, Ollie Dawe, Ryan Edwards, Sam Graham, Luke Hamilton, Will Hurrell (retiring), James Lay, Jordan Lay, Tom Lindsay (retiring), Ian Madigan, Shaun Malton, Aly Muldowney (retiring) Mat Protheroe, Nic Stirzaker, Nicky Thomas, Lewis Thiede.

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A
Adrian 1 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

11 Go to comments
T
Trevor 4 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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