Bristol great Steven Luatua has one last ambition before heading home

Veteran Bristol Bears back row Steven Luatua, who is out of contract at the season, feels that he has got one more season left in his legs as he looks to complete a decade with the Gallagher PREM high-flyers.

Luatua, who will be 35 in April, joined the Bears from the Blues in 2017 and has made over 150 appearances for the club and is speaking to them about signing a new deal to extend his career for another 12 months.

The former All Black, who played for Samoa at the 2023 World Cup, has made only five appearances this season after missing three months of the campaign with a lower-leg injury, but has been a consistent performer in the PREM.

The Auckland-born star told RugbyPass this week that he wants to continue playing and is hopeful that he can reach an agreement with the Bears

“It’s not my last season. I hope it’s not. I am out of contract. But we’ll see what happens in the next few weeks. Hopefully, we’re sticking with the Bears. If not, then we’ll see what happens.

“I think I have got one more year in me competitively. The wheels are still going to be fair. I’ve had a lot of time off this year, so you know, I’m feeling pretty fresh. I definitely do feel like I’ve still got another year in me to compete with these youngsters.

“We’ll see how the body holds up after next year, but definitely, if I can play one more year, the Bears, that’ll be my 10th year, and I’ll be very happy with that,” he said.

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Gallagher Premiership

Bristol

08:30

28 Mar 26

Harlequins

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Luatua, who has taken the first steps towards a post-playing career in coaching after joining the University of Bristol’s coaching team, is planning to return to New Zealand when he hangs up his boots.

“I initially came over here on a two-year contract. And to be honest, the rugby wasn’t the greatest, But, you know, my wife and I fell in love with the city, so that’s where we stuck around.

“And then the next couple of years after that, you know, things started to marry up, we really started to find our feet here, and the rugby was getting better, and nine years later, we’re very much enjoying it.

“My kids are getting older, and they’re missing their grandparents. My oldest daughter, who’s five, is constantly on about going back home to New Zealand so her grandparents can pick her up, which is very sweet of her.

“If I can get my 10th year here in the UK, I can happily go back to New Zealand, and I’d let the kids enjoy their grandparents for a couple of years,” he added.