Premiership Countdown: Club In Focus – Bristol

Next up to the plate in the club by club Premiership Rugby preview is the returning Bristol, or Bristol Bears as they are now officially known following a controversial re-branding.

Following another season in the Championship wilderness, Bristol finds themselves back in the big time, trading places with London Irish, who drop out after a solitary year back in the Prem.

Bristol will be seeking a marked improvement on their last foray to the Premiership in 2016/17, which saw them relegated with just three wins and 20 points from their 22 games, 13 points less than Worcester, who was their nearest rival.

 

2017/18

RFU Championship: Champions (Promoted to Premiership).

 

Bristol made it back to the Premiership on the first attempt last season, gaining promotion by a comfortable 20-point margin over nearest challengers Ealing Trailfinders.

They were relegated from the top division at the end of the 2016/17 season, the only campaign they have spent outside the Championship in their last nine.

Despite losing just one game in 22, they didn’t have it all their own way, edging several tight fixtures and being pushed by Ealing for a good portion of the season. That said, ending up with 103 points from a possible 110 in the league and racking up 949 points, they more than deserve the spot back at the top table. Anything less would have been a sensational disappointment, given the wealth of talent at the West Country side’s disposal, including head coach Pat Lam and the fact that they are now one of the richest rugby clubs in the world.

Included in their squad last season were the likes of Steven Luatua, Ian Madigan, Luke Morahan, Tusi Pisi, and Siale Piutau, which gives a snapshot of how overpowered they were compared to the rest of the Championship. The drop down in level coupled with an influx of experience allowed a number of younger players to learn and excel, the likes of Sam Jeffries, Dan Thomas, and Callum Sheedy having breakthrough seasons last time out.

With such a vast turnover in playing staff since they were last in the Prem, it’s hard to tell just what Bristol may be capable of this coming season, but with Lam at the helm, some genuine superstars, and huge financial might, it does feel as if they are far better equipped for the Premiership than previously.

Another advantage was the Championship dropping the playoff format it used previously to decide which side was promoted, meaning Bristol have been able to recruit and prepare for 2018/19 as a Premiership club for quite some time.

 

2018/19 Ins and Outs

Ins: Charles Piutau (Ulster); John Afoa and Harry Randall (Gloucester); George Smith (Queensland Reds); Harry Thacker (Leicester); Nic Stirzaker (Melbourne Rebels/Saracens); Shaun Malton (Exeter Chiefs); Yann Thomas (Rouen); Aly Muldowney (Grenoble); Jake Heenan (Connacht); Jordan Lay (Edinburgh); Tiff Eden (Nottingham); Tom Lindsay (Bedford Blues); Jake Armstrong, Jake Woolmore, and Tom Pincus (Jersey Reds); Lewis Thiede, Piers O’Connor, and Luke Daniels (all Ealing Trailfinders).

Outs: Jordan Williams, Rhodri Williams, and Ryan Bevington (Dragons); Billy Searle (Wasps); Jack O’Connell (Ealing Trailfinders); Tyler Gendall (Cornish Pirates); Soane Tonga’uiha (Ampthill); Jack Wallace (Richmond); Gaston Cortes (Leicester); Jordon Liney (Hartpury); David Lemi, Jason Harris-Wright, Thretton Palamo, Alex Giltrow, Ryan Glynn, Ben Gompels, and James Newey (all released).

 

There are a gluttony of comings and goings for Bristol ahead of the new season, but one stands out above all others. The capture of 16-cap All Black Charles Piutau on a deal worth a reported £900,000-£1,000,000 a year is a mammoth statement of intent and one which will make him the highest paid player in world rugby.

The dazzling full back will be reunited with brother Siale and fellow All Black and good friend Steven Luatua at Bristol, where they will hope he can recreate the form he has shown since leaving New Zealand for Wasps and then Ulster.

Other key signings involve the additions of talented front rowers John Afoa and Harry Thacker, both of whom are excellent in the loose, as well as Nic Stirzaker who is a solid replacement at nine for the departing Rhodri Williams, the Wales scrum half excelling under Lam’s tutelage last season.

Sealing George Smith’s signature may prove to be their best piece of business, the Australian legend still has plenty left to offer on the field and will be invaluable off it as well.

Stalwarts such as Gaston Cortes and David Lemi’s leadership and experience may be sorely missed but Bristol has recruited reasonably well across the board, although there are potentially still questions in terms of their overall squad depth.

 

Pat Lam is an exceptional coach, able to get the best out of his players and despite the resources at his disposal still has an incredibly tough job to do with Bristol.

The absolute minimum target will, of course, be staying up and attempting to establish themselves as a Premiership side, but so much more will be expected of them considering the talent they possess, especially in their back line.

Time and time again the Prem has shown itself to be an unforgiving arena, stocked with sides who will be far more familiar with the relentless schedule and one another. There will be less margin for error and little chance to rest players with the competitive nature of every game in comparison to the Championship.

Bristol will also be returning to the European Rugby Challenge Cup, drawn in a pool alongside La Rochelle, Zebre, and Enisei. It may not be a priority but they will have a good chance of qualifying in what is a reasonably underpowered group, the unpredictable La Rochelle aside.

They kick off the 2018/19 Gallagher Premiership season with a huge West Country clash at home to Bath.

 

Predictions

Premiership: Ninth - a reasonable building season which will see Bris stay up and take a few derby Scalps along the way, won’t find it as easy going as some may expect.

Challenge Cup: at best runner-up spot and a quarterfinal place.

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