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Bristol

EXCLUSIVE - 'The Bear Pit' documentary lifts lid on Bristol Bears revolution

RugbyPass presents an original documentary which examines the revolution and return to the Premiership of the Bristol Bears.

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Championed by billionaire investor Stephen Lansdown, led by championship winning coach Pat Lam, populated by a bevy of top stars and sporting an ambitious rebrand – Bristol Bears have reconstructed themselves as they once again face into the edifice of English rugby’s elite competition – the Gallagher Premiership.

In April Lansdown said the club had been “in a time-warp and we got caught out last season in the Premiership – we can’t let that happen again.”

This is the story of that venture.

RugbyPass talks to the main actors in this revolution in a bid to lift the lid of one of English rugby’s most intriguing stories of reconstruction and redemption.

Welcome to the ‘The Bear Pit’.

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Comments on RugbyPass

B
Bull Shark 7 minutes ago
All Blacks’ Scott Barrett on limiting France’s ‘general’ Antoine Dupont

Did not know that the ABs haven’t beaten France since 2018.


Interesting.

1 Go to comments
R
Rodrigo N 7 minutes ago
Ireland survive a major scare in unconvincing win over Argentina

Agree. Just in the last play of the match I counted at least one penalty by Irish players. As it happens with all emerging nations, it´s demoralizing and exhausting to always be on the wrong side of any refereeing decision just by default.

3 Go to comments
S
SadersMan 12 minutes ago
Ireland survive a major scare in unconvincing win over Argentina

A very poor yellow card call which rubbed out a legit ARG try imo. It wasn't even a penalty. The Irish player was perched lower than the tackler & raised his height into the him thus causing the head clash. As we know, not all head clashes are necessarily foul play, & for me this was such an instance. Ten in the bin for Paul Williams & TMO.

3 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 18 minutes ago
The 'one difference' between Boks and the back-to-back All Blacks

Neither can Razor. Must suck having your best days behind you.

16 Go to comments
S
SadersMan 20 minutes ago
Ireland player ratings vs Argentina | 2024 Autumn Nations Series

I didn't think ARG's 1st yellow was a card at all, not even a penalty. The Irish player was lower than the tackler & actually raised his height, thus causing the head clash in my opinion. As we know, not all head clashes are foul play & for me, this was such an instance. And a double blow for ARG was that they had a legit try erroneously ruled out. A poor standard of officiating by Williams, & TMO.

4 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 33 minutes ago
The 'one difference' between Boks and the back-to-back All Blacks

So you don’t think 2023 WC to 2027 WC with a few RCs and >80% rate along the way would stack up? Three world cups in a row?


We finished 2023 with 85% and a World Cup. On track for 80% in 2024 plus an RC.


Rassie’s the only guy who has any hope of getting close to that AB record.


What was Henry’s record up until 2011? Everyone knows how great the ABs were between 2007 and 2015. But there was a period of building that got them there that seems to get overlooked.


Rassie and Nienaber took a 7th ranked team to number one. Henry inherited the All Blacks from Mitchell (with an 82% win rate). Much easier job than turning water into wine.


I guess I can’t blame you for holding on so dearly to that itch. Those AB glory days are well and truly behind you. It’s all you’ve got to hang on to.


Good luck with France tomorrow. 🥴

16 Go to comments
W
Willie 41 minutes ago
New scrumhalf rule among 4 global Law trials as others shot down

Watch volley ball if you want a speed game. Part of the appeal of rugby is set plays. Stopping the clock while the ball is in touch is the only change needed. I am from Victoria, having escaped the trauma of living in Brisbane amongst you nuff nuffs!

8 Go to comments
J
JWH 51 minutes ago
New scrumhalf rule among 4 global Law trials as others shot down

And where might you be from exactly? You can definitely speed up the game without removing parts. I particularly like the play on rule for lineouts; makes a lot of sense and speeds up the game.

8 Go to comments
J
JWH 55 minutes ago
Ireland survive a major scare in unconvincing win over Argentina

*Referee helps Ireland survive

3 Go to comments
J
JWH 56 minutes ago
England and their Chief problem

KKK members, rednecks, harassment of LGBT+, just to name a few. It's not getting better either.

13 Go to comments
J
JWH 58 minutes ago
Ireland player ratings vs Argentina | 2024 Autumn Nations Series

You have to include the ref when rating Irish players you know?


Referee was horrendous for both sides, but in particular Argentina. That YC for Molina was pretty ridiculuous.

4 Go to comments
R
Robespierre 1 hour ago
Ireland player ratings vs Argentina | 2024 Autumn Nations Series

VDF was excellent last week and this week. Henshaw was great in the first half. Sam Prendergast tried to "do it all by himself" precisely once, when he did very well but was left unsupported. McCarthy had a mixed game, as did Crowley. Hansen was poor for the second week in a row. How was Casey not on long enough to rate but Baird was considering Baird was on all of a minute? These ratings were phoned in, the author must have been drunk by half-time.

4 Go to comments
L
LRB 1 hour ago
Ireland player ratings vs Argentina | 2024 Autumn Nations Series

Well, I won't be watching anything replays of that match.! 😁


Quoting Shane Horgan (not a fan) from last week..


"South Africa would have pumped" Ireland tonight..

4 Go to comments
J
JD Kiwi 1 hour ago
The 'one difference' between Boks and the back-to-back All Blacks

Still only two RCs in fifteen years when we won nearly every year. Win rate in the Rassie era still under 70% when the Henry/Hansen era was over 85%. Best forwards will be too old in 2027. Poor old Rassie has done a fantastic job but that itch ain't going anywhere and it'll be there for the rest of his life 🥴🥴🥴

16 Go to comments
B
BM 1 hour ago
Argentina's Felipe Contepomi dimisses All Blacks' win over Ireland

AGREE BH!😲

8 Go to comments
B
BM 1 hour ago
Argentina's Felipe Contepomi dimisses All Blacks' win over Ireland

ON:Y A WHISKER AWAY!!!🙃

8 Go to comments
B
BM 1 hour ago
Argentina vs Ireland | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

HARD LUCK YOU NEARLY MADE HISTORY!!!🤣

7 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Argentina vs Ireland | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

Lucky Irish

7 Go to comments
B
BM 1 hour ago
Argentina vs Ireland | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

DON'T BLOW IT !!! 😎

7 Go to comments
B
BM 1 hour ago
Argentina vs Ireland | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

C"MON ARGENFINA NOW IS YOUR GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY!!!😎

7 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Wales 'in one of their deepest holes for a long time' Wales 'in one of their deepest holes for a long time'
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