Bristol Bears + squad for 19-20

[Rinkadink]

2019/20 Bristol Bears squad, italics denote integrated Academy:

LOOSEHEAD PROP
James Lay (3rd year)
Yann Thomas (2nd year)
Jake Woolmore (2nd year)
Jordan Lay (2nd year)
Max Lahiff (1 year)

TIGHTHEAD PROP
John Afoa (2nd year)
Lewis Thiede (2nd year)
Jake Armstrong (2nd year)
Ollie Dawe (3rd year)
Nicky Thomas (1 year)

HOOKER
Harry Thacker (2nd year)
Shaun Malton (2nd year)
Tom Lindsay (2nd year)
Will Capon (2nd year)
George Kloska (1st Year)

SECOND ROW
Chris Vui (3rd year) till 2022
Ed Holmes (3rd year)
Joe Joyce (3rd year)
Joe Batley (3rd year)
John Hawkins (3rd)
Aly Muldowney (2nd year)
Dave Attwood (1st year) till 2021

BACK ROW
Jordan Crane (3rd year) till 2020
Steven Luatua (3rd year) till 2021
Sam Jeffries (3rd year)
Dan Thomas (3rd year)
Jake Heenan (2nd year)
Nathan Hughes (1st year) till 2021
Sam Graham (3rd year)
James Dun (3rd year)

SCRUM HALF
Andy Uren (3rd year)
Harry Randall (2nd year)
Nic Stirzaker (2nd year)
Blake Boyland (1st year)

FLY HALF
Ian Madigan (3rd year)
Callum Sheedy (3rd year)
Tiff Eden (2nd year)
Ioan Lloyd (1st year)

CENTRE
Will Hurrell (3rd year)
Siale Piutau (3rd year)
Sam Bedlow (3rd year)
Piers O'Conor (2nd year)
Charlie Powell (2nd year)

BACK THREE
Luke Morahan (3rd year)
Alapati Leiua (3rd year) till 2021
Ryan Edwards (3rd year)
Mat Protheroe (3rd year)
Charles Piutau (2nd year)
Tom Pincus (2nd year)
Luke Daniels (2nd year)
Toby Fricker (2nd year)
Tyrese Johnson-Fisher (1 year)
Aaron Chapman (3rd year)
Jake Bates (1st year)

(Credit to Jim H on Bears unofficial forum)

 

[Rinkadink]

Bookies have Bristol finishing around 9th. Internally top 6 is the target after narrowly missing out in the previous season. It's possible but anything could happen as again it seems another tight season where any team bar Exeter or Sarries could finish top 4 or relegated.

 

[Crags]

Looks a good squad. Do not know where i am predicting you to finish though. Got to say Pat Lam is one of the best coaches in the game. A certain Clubs fans would love to have him back there. The shirt that was launched at a Bear attraction place/Zoo is really smart.

 

[Rinkadink]

Yeah I love that EU shirt, away one is quite nice too. I'm okay with the red on home shirt and it looks better in person after I was in the club shop last night but feel its lacking a splash of white: hoops on the arms like last season's might have worked.

Also updated the squad list above with a couple of additions (Lahiff + Johnson-Fisher)

Here's the EU shirt for those that haven't seen it

https://www.bristolbearsrugby.com/news/gallery-bears-reveal-201920-european-jersey/

 

[Rinkadink]

Jake Woolmore +2 year extension. Really pleased with that.

Will try to work out what year that takes us to and update OP later.

 

[Rinkadink]

https://www.bristolbearsrugby.com/news/luke-hamilton-joins-on-short-term-agreement/

Luke Hamilton is back in the premiership, didn't see this one coming. Guessing it's injury cover?

 

[BrokenWing]

That EU jersey looks good. I bought a home jersey recently after vowing never to have anything with a bear on it... Not terribly good quality if I'm honest.

 

[Rinkadink]

Radradra signed, 2020-21 (3 Years)

Charles Piutau re-signed (2 years, starting 2020-21)

 

[Rinkadink]

Sad news too; Sam Jefferies taking a break from playing due to injury (still working with Bristol Bears in backroom role) to see if recovery is possible.

Dude has amazing talent and potential so hopefully will return.

 

[Rinkadink]

Confirmed squad for the coming season minus academy... still a fair number yet to be announced as staying or moving on elsewhere;

20/21 Squad as of 04/03/20

TH
Sinkler
Afoa
Lahiff

LH
Woolmore
Y. Thomas
Dawe

HOOKER
Thacker
Capon


2nd ROW
Vui
Hawkins
Attwood
Joyce
Holmes

BACK ROW
Luatua
Hughes
D. Thomas
M. Eadie
Heenan

SCRUM HALF
Randall
Uren

FLY HALF
Sheedy
Lloyd
Eden

CENTRE
Bedlow
O'Conor
Radradra
S. Piutau

BACK 3
C. Piutau
Morahan
Leiua
Fricker
Purdy


LEAVING (confirmed)
Crane (retirement)
Muldowney (retirement)
Protheroe (Ospreys)
Pincus (Rebels)