Bristol Bears add another Connacht connection to coaching team

Bristol Bears’ coaching team for the 2024/25 season is set to be finalised with the arrival of Dave Ellis as skills coach.

The nomadic New Zealander, who hails from Waikato, worked under Pat Lam at Connacht for three-and-a-half years and was a key component in the unheralded Irish province’s Pro12 Championship win in 2016. Ellis described that title-winning season “as the highlight of my rugby life”.

He left Galway to return home to New Zealand in 2017 after accepting an offer to become one of Tana Umaga’s assistants at the Auckland-based Blues.

Playing and coaching has taken Ellis all over the world to Australia, Canada, the USA, Asia, South Africa, Hong Kong, Argentina, followed by Ireland and New Zealand. He also had a brief spell as a consultant to the Bears in 2017.

The only other change to the coaching team from last season was announced earlier this summer, with Sean Marsden replacing Dave Walder as backs and attack coach.

Jordan Crane continues as defence coach and Mark Irish and Chris Morgan remain in charge of the forwards.