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Virimi Vakatawa leaves Bristol Bears after one season

(Photo by Patrick Khachfe/Getty Images)

Bristol Bears have confirmed the departure of former France centre Virimi Vakatawa after one season at Ashton Gate.

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The 32-year-old signed for the Bears in September 2023 on a one-year deal in a move that revived his career after he was forced to retire the year before due to a heart condition.

The 31-cap France international went on to make 19 appearances for the Bears last season, scoring four tries, as his side fell just short of making the Gallagher Premiership semi-finals.

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Vakatawa ran out for the Barbarians on Saturday against Fiji, rekindling the midfield partnership he had with Gael Fickou for Racing 92 and France.

The next move in the centre’s career has not been announced.

Fixture
Internationals
Argentina
13 - 28
Full-time
France
All Stats and Data

“Thank you to Pat for giving me the opportunity to come and play here in Bristol,” Vakatawa said after his departure was announced.

“It’s a great team and I’ve loved my time here, even though it’s for one season only.

“The boys and everyone who works in the club has been so lovely and so welcoming to me since I first got here and I’m very grateful.

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“Lastly to the fans: thanks for all your support throughout the year. I wish Pat and the boys all the very best in the future. Merci beaucoup.”

Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam added: “V made an outstanding impact on and off the field and repaid the faith the club showed in giving him an opportunity back in the professional game.

“To do what he has done through the challenges and obstacles following time away from the game shows the mark of the man. It’s been a real pleasure and privilege to have a player of V’s quality and experience play for the Bristol Bears.

“We all thank him for his commitment and efforts for the Bears and we wish him and his family all the best for the future.”

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JW 1 hour ago
New report details source of Ardie Savea's All Blacks frustrations

Yeah it’s hard to be critical of Razor but of choices in his first year of the loosies he constantly played Ardie at 8. It would seem that was always the plan and that Hoskins was surplas to requirements (7, with Dalton then Cane, as was fairly happy with but understand the calls to drop Cane for his last test, along with TJ, and 6 was shared around nicely I thought) and he didn’t have the alround game of Ardie to simply overtake him at 8 (and use Ardie elsewhere). Of course he did that exact thing next year, too late for HS. Then last year 7 was fine if though the same problem was brought about by using Ardie (always leaves a component of a back three missing) there so often stopping Dalton from getting opportunities. At 6 Parker just had one or two too many games for me but 8 was shuffled around nicely, even if I don’t know why Lakai was thought to be the key there.

Of course a lot of rotation was brought about by, you guesed it, injury, still. Now to be fair to Razor, in reality we have no idea if he had to manage Ardie this way, based on NZRs desires with his contract (we have seen them move heaven and earth to retain him), and if he benched him often whether that would have caused him to leave or not. Or even that Hoskins would have accepted a jersey unless it was with a single digit on it, and a regular pick, as he had had to work his way back to the team without a big bump in his contract (of loosing AB selection early on) of other people his standing, so he also might have still put his family and therefor more over the jersey.



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