Bristol Bears announce raft of re-signings

US Eagles fly-half AJ MacGinty, this season’s leading points scorer in the Gallagher Premiership, is one of 10 Bristol players to have signed new deals with the club.

The 34-year-old is leading the race to become the first player to 100 league points having taken his tally to 87 in the record 54-24 win at Leicester in round eight last weekend.

MacGinty limped off in that game and Bristol have yet to disclose how long the Irish-born playmaker will be out for, but his decision to stay put at Ashton Gate is great news for the Bears given how important he is to their attacking system.

His replacement on Friday night, Sam Worsley, has also put pen to paper on a new deal, while dynamic hooker Gabriel Oghre, who toured New Zealand with England last summer, also extends his stay with the club.

Powerhouse Argentina back-row Santiago Grondona is another to commit his future, alongside versatile centre James Williams.

Long-serving loosehead prop Jake Woolmore, who has made 161 appearances for the club since arriving from Jersey in 2018, extends his stay with the Bears into a seventh season.

Also penning extensions are highly-rated duo, Jack Bates and Joe Jenkins, who are home-grown products like Worsley, with all three featuring heavily in the Gallagher Premiership and Champions Cup already this season, while current Bristolian Academy forwards Paddy Pearce and Jimmy Halliwell will continue as Bears.

Director of Rugby, Pat Lam, said: “We’re building a squad that can play the Bears way, with a mixture of guys that have been on the journey for a number of years and the addition of some quality international players. But the most exciting part is that we are bringing through a group of homegrown young players who have taken their opportunity through hard work and desire to do well for their community.

“It’s an exciting time to be part of this club, and following the announcements of Tom Jordan and Pedro Rubiolo already, it’s fantastic to see a core group of players – who have been in excellent form – commit their futures early. They want to be part of what we are doing.

“It’s also pleasing to see the power and success of our Academy pathway, with five of today’s announcements current or former Academy players and four – Sam Worsley, Jimmy Halliwell, Paddy Pearce and Joe Jenkins – a part of the 2022 Championship winning Bears U18s side.”