Bristol swoop for Lovejoy Chawatama as Kyle Sinckler's replacement

Bristol have secured the signature of Harlequins prop Lovejoy Chawatama, filling the vacancy that will be left by the touted end-of-season exit of tighthead Kyle Sinckler to the Top 14.

Bears director of rugby Pat Lam had been keen on bringing Chawatama to Ashton Gate ever since the front-rower’s former club, London Irish, went into administration at the end of last season.

At the time, Chawatama opted to sign for Harlequins but the 31-year-old from Zimbabwe has now committed to Bristol, who need a replacement for the France-bound Sinckler.

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Chawatama was a mainstay of the London Irish team in their swansong Premiership season in 2022/23, making 18 league appearances.

The tighthead has since struggled for game time at Harlequins, only taking the field on seven occasions in all competitions this season.

"I realised that to be a professional rugby player you needed cardio"

@LiRFC prop @Ljchawatama talks the fitness step-up needed to play in the Premiership, among other things, with @heagneyl ??????https://t.co/SQVuC1QfUc

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 15, 2020

Chawatama is no stranger to the West Country having had a brief spell in the National Leagues with Clifton while he was studying construction project management at the University of the West of England in Bristol.

Meanwhile, it was confirmed on Tuesday that Callum Sheedy, the Bears’ long-serving No10, will join Cardiff next season to reignite his stalled international career with Wales.

Sheedy joined the Bristol academy in 2014 before graduating to the first-team squad, going on to make his international debut for Wales in 2020.

The 28-year-old has scored 1,165 points for Bristol during his 178 appearances, making him the club’s sixth-highest points scorer of all time.